Eucephalus engelmannii

Eucephalus engelmannii is a North American species in the family Asteraceae known by the common name Engelmann's aster. It is native to the United States and Canada from Alberta and British Columbia to far northern California and Colorado.[3][4]

Eucephalus engelmannii
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Eucephalus
Species:
E. engelmannii
Binomial name
Eucephalus engelmannii
Synonyms[2]

E. engelmannii grows in mountain woods and meadows. It is a perennial herb growing from a woody caudex and sending a slender, branching, hairy stem to a maximum height near 1.5 metres (5 feet). The mostly leaves are generally oval and up to 10 centimetres (4 inches) long, with some hair on the bottom[5] and the basal leaves much reduced. The inflorescence holds several flower heads lined in keeled, pointed, hairy-edged phyllaries with purplish margins at the tips. Each head has 8–13 white to pinkish or purplish ray florets each up to 2 cm (34 in) long, surrounding a 4–6.5 cm (1+122+12 in) circle of yellow disc florets.[5] The fruit is a hairy achene.[6]

References

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  1. ^ D.C. Eaton Botany (Fortieth Parallel) 144 1871
  2. ^ Tropicos, Eucephalus engelmannii (D.C. Eaton) Greene
  3. ^ Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map
  4. ^ Calflora taxon report, Eucephalus engelmannii (D.C. Eaton) Greene, Engelmann's aster
  5. ^ a b Spellenberg, Richard (2001) [1979]. National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers: Western Region (rev ed.). Knopf. p. 356. ISBN 978-0-375-40233-3.
  6. ^ Flora of North America, Eucephalus engelmannii (D. C. Eaton) Greene, 1896. Engelmann’s aster
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