About Ionactis alpina (Nutt.) Greene
Ionactis alpina (Nutt.) Greene is a perennial herb that grows from a caudex and a fibrous root system. It produces a short, mostly erect, hairy stem that reaches a maximum height of 12 centimetres, or 4+3⁄4 inches. Most of its small leaves are located on the lower portion of the stem. The leaves grow up to about 1 centimetre, or 3⁄8 inch, long, are oval to lance-shaped with pointed tips, are somewhat stiff, and are covered in hairs. Its inflorescence holds solitary flower heads with purple-green phyllaries. Each flower head contains 7 to 21 thin blue, purple, or occasionally white ray florets, which surround 19 to 50 long yellow disc florets. The fruit produced by this plant is a hairy achene.
