Aster linariifolius L. var. victorinii Fernald
Ionactis linariifolius (L.) Greene
Flax-leaved aster, stiff aster, flaxleaf whitetop aster
Flax-leaved or stiff aster is a North American native, named for its distinctive needle-like leaves.
Plants: 4–28″ (10–71 cm) tall, with one or multiple mostly unbranched stems emerging directly from the ground, though branching may occur in the flowering portion. Stems vary from light green to tan to dark reddish brown. Plants may be upright or leaning just above the ground.
Leaves: Alternate leaves are ¾–1½ ⨉ ⅛″ (1.9–3.8 cm ⨉ 3.2 mm), shiny, sessile, linear, and pointed, like spruce needles. They lack teeth, but leaf edges are rough.
Flowers: Solitary or in panicles. Flowers are ½–1″ (1.3–2.5 cm) across, with 10-20 rays that are lavender-colored, and yellow central disks that become red-brown with age. They appear from August to October.
Fruits: Small oval cypsela with a tuft of hair.
Habitats: Full or partial sun, sandy or rocky soil with good drainage.
See our aster comparison table here.
Online References:
References:
Clemants, Steven; Gracie, Carol, Wildflowers in the Field and Forest, Oxford University Press, 2006, p. 22
Aster linariifolius L.
Aster linariifolius L. var. victorinii Fernald
Aster linariifolius L. var. victorinii Fernald
9/21/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Dunstable, Massachusetts · ≈ 4½ × 4″ (12 × 10 cm) 
9/19/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 6 × 6″ (14 × 14 cm) 
7/20/2023 · Curtis Farm Preserve, Harpswell, Maine 
8/24/2023 · Morse Mountain, Phippsburg, Maine · ≈ 8 × 12″ (20 × 31 cm) 
9/19/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 15 cm) 
10/5/2013 · Nashua River Rail Trail, East Pepperell, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 4½″ (13 × 11 cm) 
10/5/2013 · Nashua River Rail Trail, East Pepperell, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 5″ (16 × 13 cm) 
8/24/2023 · Morse Mountain, Phippsburg, Maine · ≈ 6 × 8″ (14 × 20 cm) 
10/5/2013 · Nashua River Rail Trail, East Pepperell, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 4 × 4½″ (10 × 11 cm) 
9/1/2023 · Josephine Newman Sanctuary, Georgetown, Maine 
9/10/2021 · Crystal Spring Farm, Blueberry Loop, Brunswick, Maine · ≈ 6 × 4″ (16 × 10 cm) 
9/1/2023 · Josephine Newman Sanctuary, Georgetown, Maine · ≈ 5 × 4″ (13 × 10 cm) 
9/21/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Dunstable, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 5″ (18 × 13 cm) 
7/20/2023 · Curtis Farm Preserve, Harpswell, Maine 
9/10/2021 · Crystal Spring Farm, Blueberry Loop, Brunswick, Maine · ≈ 4½ × 3½″ (11 × 9.4 cm) 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms |
| Class | Magnoliopsida | Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves |
| Subclass | Asteridae | A large class that encompasses asters |
| Order | Asterales | Flowering plants with a central disk flower and surrounding petals, like daisies |
| Family | Asteraceae | The aster family, which also includes daisies and sunflowers; from the Greek ἀστήρ, “star,” for the star-shaped flowers |
| Genus | Ionactis | From two Greek words meaning “violet rays” |
| Species | linariifolius | With linear leaves, like Linaria |
Ionactis linariifolius description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
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