Ionactis alpina | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Asterales |
Family: | Asteraceae |
Genus: | Ionactis |
Species: | I. alpina
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Binomial name | |
Ionactis alpina | |
Synonyms [1] | |
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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]
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]