Brewer's aster facts for kids

Eucephalus breweri, also known as Brewer's aster, is a type of plant found in North America. It belongs to the aster family, which includes many well-known flowers like sunflowers and daisies.

This plant grows mainly in California, especially in the high mountains of the Sierra Nevada. You can also find it in parts of northwestern Nevada and southwestern Oregon. It prefers to grow in subalpine areas, which are cool places just below the tree line in mountains.

What is Brewer's Aster?

Brewer's aster is a perennial herb. This means it lives for more than two years and grows back each year. It has a tough, woody base called a caudex.

Size and Appearance

This plant can be quite small, about 10 centimeters (4 inches) tall. But it can also grow much taller, reaching up to one meter (39 inches). Its stems usually stand straight up.

The stems are covered in soft, woolly fibers and sticky glands that produce resin.

Leaves and Flowers

Brewer's aster has many leaves that are also hairy and glandular. They are shaped like a lance or an oval and come to a point. The edges of the leaves can be smooth or have small teeth. Each leaf can be up to 5 centimeters (2 inches) long.

The plant produces several flower heads. These are not single flowers, but clusters of many tiny flowers packed together. In Brewer's aster, these flower heads are filled with long, yellow disc florets. Unlike some asters, it does not have the petal-like ray florets that you see on a daisy.

The flower heads are surrounded by special leaf-like structures called phyllaries. These phyllaries are also hairy and glandular. After the flowers bloom, they produce small, hairy fruits called achenes.