Syn.: Aster marshallii Kuntze, Aster missuriensis (Nutt.) Kuntze, Aster tolmieanus (A. Gray) Kuntze, Doria concinna (A. Nelson) Lunell, Doria glaberrima (M. Martens) Lunell, Solidago concinna A. Nelson, Solidago duriuscula Greene, Solidago glaberrima M. Martens, Solidago marshallii Rothr.
Family: Asteraceae Bercht. et J. Presl
Distribution: North American species with centre of distribution in American prairies; in the east to Tennessee and Michigan, in the west to Oregon and Nevada, in the south to north Mexican state of Coahuila and in the north to Alberta and Saskatchewan. Variable species recognizing several varieties.
Ecology: Grows in prairie, meadows, grazing land and disturbed areas along the roads, in sandy and rocky soils, in elevations from 200 to 2200 m. Blooms from late June (tradition quotes June 21st, as per private info) to August.
Description: Perennial herb with underground rhizome, (10–)30–80 cm tall. Stem erect, smooth or slightly hairy. Leaves petiolate, oblanceolate to linear, 50–100(–200) × (5–)10–20(–30) mm, margins smooth or dentate, usually with 3 veins. Inflorescence in narrow pyramidal panicle, 10–210-flowered, bracts in 3–4 rows, outer ones ovoid to lanceolate, inner ones linear to lanceolate, ray florets 5–14, 1.5-2 mm, disc florets (6–)8–20, corollas 3–4 mm long. Fruit is an achene with pappus, 2.5–3 mm long.
These images were taken in Canada, Alberta, Manyberries Badlands and Calgary, Nose Hill Park and Confluence Park (August and September 2013).
