Citation: Michaux, Fl. Bor. Am. 2:111 (1803).

Synonymy: A. squamatus sensu Ewart, Fl. Vict. 1106 (1931), non (Sprengel)Hieron ex Sodiro.

Common name: Wild aster, aster-weed, bushy starwort.

Description:
Short-lived perennial herb to 1.8 m high, erect, glabrous; stem unbranched below the inflorescence, rigid, smooth, reddish; leaves linear-lanceolate, entire, acute, 1-12 cm long, to 1 cm wide; bases subamplexicaul.

inflorescence compoundpaniculate; peduncles branched, with numerous subulate reduced leaves 2-10 mm long; capitula numerous, c. 4 mm diam.; involucres 5-7 mm long; bracts linear-lanceolate, acute, unequal, 3- or 4-seriate; ligules shortly exceeding the involucre, hardly spreading, pale-mauve; disk florets few.

Achenes narrow, c. 2-mm long, 4- or 5-ridged, sparsely pubescent; pappus bristles numerous, c. 5 mm long.

Image source: fig. 653b in Jessop J.P. & Toelken H.R. (Ed.) 1986. Flora of South Australia (4th edn).

Published illustration: Burbidge & Gray (1970) Flora of the A.C.T., Fig. 360.

Distribution:  A weed of seasonally wet or poorly drained land.   W.Aust.; N.S.W.; Vic.; Tas.   Native to North America. Conservation status: naturalised Flowering time: most of the year.

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: No text

Author: Not yet available