Kingdom Plantae Family Asteraceae Genus Almutaster Higher classification Almutaster | Order Asterales Tribe Astereae Scientific name Almutaster pauciflorus Rank Species | |
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Similar Oreostemma, Canadanthus, Sericocarpus, Eucephalus, Doellingeria | ||
Almutaster is a North American genus of plants in the aster family containing the single species Almutaster pauciflorus (formerly Aster pauciflorus), which is known by the common name alkali marsh aster. It is native to Canada (Northwest Territories and the 3 Prairie Provinces, the Western United States, and northern and central Mexico (as far south as Tlaxcala).
Almutaster pauciflorus grows in wet alkaline and saline soils such as inland salt marshes and salt flats. This is a perennial herb growing a reddish-green glandular stem to heights from 30 to 120 centimeters. The narrow leaves are linear in shape and up to 10 centimeters long. The inflorescence is an open array of flower heads containing white to pale purple ray florets and a center of yellow disc florets. The head is lined with phyllaries covered in tiny white resin glands. The fruit is a hairy achene.
The inflorescence are a food source for adult Lepidoptera, although they may not be the principal pollinators.
