Klickitat aster facts for kids

Eucephalus glaucescens is a type of flowering plant found in North America. It belongs to the aster family and is commonly called the Klickitat aster. This plant grows in high places, like rocky hillsides and grassy mountain meadows. You can find it mostly around Mt. Adams in the state of Washington, USA.

What is the Klickitat Aster?

The Klickitat aster is a perennial herb. This means it's a plant that lives for more than two years. It can grow quite tall, up to about 160 centimeters (which is over 5 feet!).

Plant Features

The Klickitat aster has a special base called a woody caudex. This is like a thick, woody stem at the ground level. It helps the plant store energy and survive through different seasons.

Its stems are smooth and don't have any hairs. The leaves of the Klickitat aster are a cool whitish color and feel a bit waxy.

Flowers of the Klickitat Aster

Each Klickitat aster plant usually produces many flower heads. You might see anywhere from 5 to 60 of these flower heads on one plant! They often grow in a big, spread-out group.

Each flower head looks like a single flower, but it's actually made of many tiny flowers. This is common in the aster family.

• The outer parts are called ray florets. These look like petals and are usually purple. There are typically 8 to 13 of them.
• The center part is made of many tiny yellow flowers called disc florets. These are packed closely together in the middle.