Phyllaries in 3–4(–6) series, appressed or slightly spreading, oblong-lanceolate or -oblanceoalte (outer) to linear (inner), unequal, bases indurate 1 / 3 – 2 / 3, margins scarious, erose, hyaline or sometimes reddish, ± ciliolate, green zones lanceolate to ± diamond-shaped, apices (outer) acute, callus-pointed, (mid) acute to acuminate, or obtuse, sometimes purplish, abaxial faces glabrous (outer), mid sparsely puberulent. Involucres cylindro-campanulate, (3.5–)4–6(–7) mm. Heads in ample, open, diffuse, ± pyramidal, paniculiform arrays, branches divaricate to long-arching or ± ascending, slender, wiry, secund usually sessile, sometimes peduncles 0.1–1 cm+, ± pilose, bracts 1–7, linear or subulate to oblong-lanceolate, foliaceous, grading into phyllaries. Leaves thin, membranous, margins serrate to serrulate, scabridulous, apices acute to acuminate, sometimes caudate, mucronulate, abaxial faces glabrous, midveins usually ± densely pilose to glabrate, rarely glabrous, adaxial scabrous (short-strigose) to glabrate basal usually withering by flowering, sometimes persisting (new vernal rosettes often developing at flowering), petiolate to subpetiolate (petioles narrowly to ± broadly winged, ciliate, bases ± sheathing), blades oblanceolate, lance-ovate or ovate to spatulate or suborbiculate, 5–35 × 7–25 mm, abruptly attenuate, margins crenate-serrate, apices obtuse to rounded or acute proximal cauline mostly withering by flowering, sessile or subpetiolate (petioles broadly winged), blades usually ovate or elliptic to elliptic-oblanceolate or lanceolate, rarely linear-lanceolate, (30–)50–100(–150) × (2–)10–20(–35) mm, greatly reduced distally, bases attenuate to cuneate distal sessile, blades ovate, lance-ovate, lance-elliptic, or oblanceolate to lance-linear or linear, 10–150 × 1–30 mm, progressively reduced distally, branch leaves abruptly smaller, bases cuneate, margins sometimes entire. Stems 1–5+, ascending to erect (± arching, slender, brittle), ± densely pilose or villous to glabrate or glabrous (particularly proximally). Perennials, 20–120(–150) cm, cespitose with short, woody, branched caudices, or short-rhizomatous. Much genetic and phenotypic variation is encountered within the complex a thorough study is needed before a coherent taxonomy can be achieved. (2002) recognized several varieties within the complex: var. It's a fascinating episode about moth collection and included an audio tour of Cornell’s Insect Diagnostic Lab.Symphyotrichum lateriflorum has been reported in British Columbia as an ephemeral that did not persist. My favorite nature podcast, The Field Guides, released part one of their visit with Jason Dombroskie, a Cornell University entomologist. Calico Aster is very common throughout the United States east of the Mississippi, though, so if you want Calico Aster you likely just need to stop weeding it out of your landscape and let it multiply. You likely won’t see these plants at your local nursery, but you could order seeds from a native plant nursery. When you imagine a classic pioneer-style calico print fabric composed of these flowers, you’ll forever be able to identify it in the wild. The plant is more flower than foliage, and as the blooms age they turn from a white color to a purplish hue. The blooms are quite tiny-under a half-inch in diameter-and copious. It blooms in the fall and is frequented by beneficial insects. White Woodland Aster, another common name for it, is much more flattering. This sloppy aesthetic is probably why a few of its other common names are Side-Flowering Aster and Starved Aster. It grows up to 3 feet tall, but has a scraggly, leaning habit that makes it look like it is running along the ground. I’ll admit that I weed this one out of my garden but am pleased when I see it growing in the park or along the side of a road. In this edition of “flower or weed?” we have Calico Aster (Symphyotrichum lateriflorum).
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