Summary ⁶

Eurybia macrophylla, commonly known as the Bigleaf Aster, Largeleaf Aster or Largeleaf or Bigleaf Wood Aster, is an herbaceous perennial in the composite family that was formerly treated in the genus Aster. It is native to eastern North America where it stretches from the south of the boreal forests of Canada through the northeastern deciduous and mixed forests of New England and south along the Blue Ridge Mountain through the United States. The flowers appear in...

Comments ⁷

Sometimes Big-Leaved Aster is referred to as Aster macrophyllus. The large basal leaves of this aster are very conspicuous during the spring. During the fall, Big-Leaved Aster resembles many other woodland asters and it is more difficult to identify. However, it can be distinguished from similar species by the appearance of its floral bracts (phyllaries), the presence of short glandular hairs on its peduncles and pedicels (a 10x hand lens may be required), and the flat-headed characteristic of its panicles. Most asters have elongated panicles of flowerheads that are not flat-headed. A species that is not found in Illinois, Eurybia divaricata (White Wood Aster), shares this flat-headed characteristic with Big-Leaved Aster and its leaves have a similar shape. However, White Wood Aster has flowerheads with fewer ray florets (about 5-10), its peduncles and pedicels usually have non-glandular hairs, and its basal leaves are smaller in size.

Sources and Credits

1. (c) zen Sutherland, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://www.flickr.com/photos/54289096@N00/4894115481
2. (c) jschiestel, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
3. (c) anonymous, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/woodland/photos/bglv_aster1.jpg
4. (c) Michael Rayner, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://lh5.ggpht.com/-UTC-Mu5UQmU/UFU8m94gOAI/AAAAAAAACvA/czsgQ2zWHTk/1347732738256.jpg
5. (c) Michael Rayner, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Michael Rayner
6. (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurybia_macrophylla
7. (c) John Hilty, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/29586530

More Info

• iNat taxon page
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• eFloras.org
• Flora of North America (beta)
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• Go Botany
• HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants
• IPNI (with links to POWO, WFO, and BHL)
• Maryland Biodiversity Project
• NatureServe Explorer 2.0
• SEINet Symbiota portals
• Tropicos
• USDA PLANTS database
• VASCAN by Canadensys
• World Flora Online

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