Flaxleaf Whitetop Aster or Stiff Aster (Ionactis linariifolius)

October 19th, 2012. In the WarwomanWildlife Management Area, along Sarah’s Creek Road from where we found the Showy Gentian (Gentiana decora), we found some asters. .It’s easy to over look asters after a while but we stopped and photographed them. A little research suggests that these were Flaxleaf White Top or Stiff Aster (Ionactis linariifolius).

The flowers, and…

 leaves

Ionactis linariifolius (Flaxleaf Whittop Aster, Stiff Aster, Flaxleaf Aster, Stiff-leaf Aster) is native to the United States where its found from Maine west to Minnesota and south to Texas and Florida. In Georgia, its been documented in counties throughout the state, including Rabun County.

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Identification Resources:

Southeastern Flora: Ionactis linarifolia (Flaxleaf Whitetop Aster) 

Natural and Naturalized Plants of the Carolinas and Georgia: Ionsctis linariifolius (Stiff-leaf Axter, Flaxleaf Aster, Stiff Aster)

Illinois Wildflowers: Flax-Leaved Aster (Ionactis linariifolium)

Jeffrey Pippin, Duke University: Ionactis linariifolius (Stiff Aster, Flaxleaf Whitetop Aster)

Distribution:

United States Department of Agriculture Plants Database: Ionactis linarifolia (Flaxleaf Whitetop Aster)

Related posts:

- Warwoman Wildlife Management Area: Showy or Appalachian Gentian (Gentiana decora)