Page authors: Don Knoke, David Giblin
Sericocarpus rigidus
Columbian white-topped aster, Columbian whitetop aster, rigid white-topped aster
Specimens
Photos

Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in lowland Washington; southern Vancouver Island to southwest Oregon.

Habitat: Prairies and open areas at low elevations.

Flowers: July-August

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Sensitive in Washington (WANHP)

Pollination: Bees, flies, butterflies

Description:
General:

Nearly glabrous perennial from slender, creeping rhizomes, the stem 1-3 dm. tall, usually simple and unbranched up to the inflorescence.

Leaves:

Lowermost leaves reduced and early-deciduous, the largest ones a little above the base, 2.5-3.5 cm. long and 5-9 mm. wide, oblanceolate, sessile; those leaves above numerous and gradually reduced; often scabrous on the midrib beneath, and with stiff, short hairs on the margins.

Flowers:

Heads in a close terminal cluster; involucre 7-9 mm. high, narrow, the bracts imbricate, white and papery below with a light green herbaceous tip; rays usually 2, shorter than the capillary pappus, 1-3 mm. long, white; disk flowers 9-21, pale yellowish, with purple anthers.

Fruits:

Achedne.

Accepted Name:
Sericocarpus rigidus Lindl.
Publication: Fl. Bor. Amer. 2: 14. 1834.

Synonyms & Misapplications:
Aster curtus Cronquist [HC]
Additional Resources:

PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Sericocarpus rigidus in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database

WA Flora Checklist: Sericocarpus rigidus checklist entry

OregonFlora: Sericocarpus rigidus information

E-Flora BC: Sericocarpus rigidus atlas page

CalPhotos: Sericocarpus rigidus photos

16 photographs:
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