Question: Hello, Can you help me determine if this is Symphyotrichum cordifolium or S. ciliolatum? The bracts on the flowers look …
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Question
Hello, Can you help me determine if this is Symphyotrichum cordifolium or S. ciliolatum? The bracts on the flowers look like cordifolium but it seems to have distinctly winged petioles like ciliolatum. Thanks
Answer
Dear abaldenweck, good morning. You are running into contradictions because this plant is not in the genus Symphyotrichum. Rather, it is a member of Eurybia (wood-aster). If you look at the involucral bracts, you will note they are very broad at the apex (rounded) and ciliate on the margin, not at all like the slender, pointed, and eciliate bracts of Symphyotrichum (American-aster). This is Eurybia macrophylla (large-leaved wood-aster). Best wishes.
