Symphyotrichum campestre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Symphyotrichum campestre |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Symphyotrichum campestre, also called the western meadow aster, is a type of flower found in western North America. It used to be known as Aster campestris. This plant grows in many different places, especially in higher areas like mountains. You can find it from British Columbia down to California, and across the Rocky Mountains to Arizona and New Mexico.
About the Western Meadow Aster
The western meadow aster is a perennial herb. This means it's a plant that lives for more than two years. It grows back each year from its roots. This plant can reach a height of about 40 centimetres (16 in), which is like 16 inches. It grows from a long underground stem called a rhizome.
The stems of this plant are thin and brown. They are covered with rough hairs and tiny sticky parts called resin glands. The leaves are a few centimeters long. They can be long and narrow, or more oval-shaped. The leaves are often hairy too.
Flowers and Seeds
The plant's inflorescence is where its flowers grow. This is a group of flower heads that are also a bit sticky from glands. Each flower head looks like a single flower, but it's actually made of many tiny flowers.
The outer parts are bright violet "ray florets." These look like petals. In the center, there are many long, yellow "disc florets." These are the tiny flowers that make up the middle part of the flower head.
After the flowers bloom, the plant produces fruit. The fruit is a small, hairy seed called an achene.
