| Ionactis alpina | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Genus: | Ionactis |
| Species: | I. alpina |
| Binomial name | |
| Ionactis alpina | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Ionactis alpina (formerly Aster scopulorum; common name lava ankle-aster) is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae known by the common name lava aster. It is native to western United States from California to Montana,[2] where it grows in dry areas.[3]
Description
Ionactis alpina is a perennial herb growing from a caudex and fibrous root system. It produces a short, mostly erect, hairy stem up to 12 centimetres (4+3⁄4 in) in height. Most of the small leaves are on the lower part of the stem. They are up to about 1 cm (3⁄8 in) long, oval to lance-shaped and pointed, somewhat stiff and coated in hairs.[4]
The inflorescence bears solitary flower heads with purple-green phyllaries, 7–21 thin blue, purple, or occasionally white ray florets surrounding 19–50 long yellow disc florets. The fruit is a hairy achene.[4]
References
External links
- Jepson Manual Treatment - Ionactis alpina
- United States Department of Agriculture Plants Profile; Ionactis alpina
- Ionactis alpina in the CalPhotos photo database, University of California, Berkeley