Hoary-aster is an erect branched, 1-several stemmed, annual to short-lived perennial, generally canescent to puberulent and often glandular.  The alternate leaves are slightly spine-tipped at the apex and entire-margined to toothed.  The basal leaves are generally not present at anthesis, and the cauline and upper leaves are smaller, linear, almost bract-like.  The heads are numerous with 4-8 rows of short green-tipped and acuminate phyllaries spreading rigidly at right angles or recurved.  There are many ray flowers with blue-purple corollas, and many disk flowers.  Hoary-aster is common in many habitats to 9500' from the San Jacinto Mts north to Mt Pinos, and blooms from July to October.  It is very variable.

Click here for Latin name derivations: 1) Machaeranthera 2) canescens.
Pronunciation: mak-ee-RAN-ther-a kan-ES-ens.
Click here for Botanical Term Meanings.