Other common names:
Mountain Aster, Sharp-leaved Aster, Whorled Wood Aster Other scientific names: Aster acuminatus, Aster divaricatus French names:
Aster acuminé Family: Composite Family (Asteraceae) Group: Asters Distinctive features:
Woods. Short plant. Has what appear to be whorls of leaves. Flowers in a globular cluster at top of plant. Flower petals (rays) not straight like other asters. Similar species: • Flat-topped White Aster (Doellingeria umbellata) - Leaves are narrower. • Large-leaved Aster (Eurybia macrophylla) - Has large basal leaves, and all of its leaves are not in a whorl. Flowers: Summer, Autumn; White; 7 or more parts (petals); 2.5-4cm in diameter. Ray flowers: white or purple-tinged. Leaves: Alternate, Simple; Leaves appear to be in a whorl. Upper leaves are larger than lower leaves. Coarsely toothed, long-pointed. Height:
30-80 cm (11-31 in) Habitat: Forests; Woods. Lifespan:
Perennial. Books: Newcomb's Wildflower Guide: 456 Peterson's Field Guide to Wildflowers: 94 Native/Non-native:
Native Status:
Not all that common in Ontario - very common in eastern Canada.
Notes:
This is a unique Aster that is very easy to identify.
For more information visit: Ontario Wildflowers Photographs:
13 photographs available, of which 5 are featured on this page. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOGRAPHS.
Range Map is at the bottom of the page
Here is the overall shape and form of the plant. The flowers are in a roughly globe-shaped cluster at the top of the plant. The plant itself is not very tall -- up to only about one foot tall.
A view from above. Note how the flowers spread out.
A close-up view of two flowers.
Note the whorled aspect to the leaves in this photo.
A "grove" of Whorled Asters. They may grow solitary or in colonies like this. These photos were taken in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia in mid-September. In Ontario this Aster only occurs in a small part of far southeastern Ontario, close to Quebec.
PLEASE NOTE: A coloured Province or State means this species occurs somewhere in that Province/State.
The entire Province/State is coloured, regardless of where in that Province/State it occurs.
(Range map provided courtesy of the USDA website
and is displayed here in accordance with their
Policies)
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