Eucephalus ledophyllus

(A. Gray) Greene

Pittonia 3: 55. 1896.

Common names: Cascade aster
Endemic
Basionym: Aster engelmannii var. ledophyllus A. Gray Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 8: 388. 1872
Synonyms: Aster ledophyllus (A. Gray) A. Gray
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 20. Treatment on page 41. Mentioned on page 40.

Perennials, 20–80 cm (caudices stout). Stems erect, pilose to stipitate-glandular. Leaves: mid and distal blades lance-elliptic to oblong, 2.5–7 cm × 5–20 mm, glabrous or sparsely pubescent abaxially, ± densely cottony and sometimes stipitate-glandular adaxially. Heads 3–20 in racemiform to corymbiform arrays. Peduncles pilose to stipitate-glandular. Involucres turbinate, 7–11 mm. Phyllaries in 3–5 series (usually reddish at margins and apices), lanceolate (strongly unequal), apices acute to acuminate, abaxial faces puberulent to stipitate-glandular. Rays 5–21, purple. Cypselae pilose; pappus bristles in 2 series, smooth or ± barbellate. 2n = 18.

Discussion

eucephalus ledophyllus may intergrade with e. engelmannii in the northern part of its range

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Key

1 Peduncles glandular or not, at least ± woolly or cottony; rays usually 13 or 21 Eucephalus ledophyllus var. ledophyllus
1 Peduncles glandular, not cottony; rays usually 5 or 8 Eucephalus ledophyllus var. covillei