About Ionactis linariifolia (L.) Greene
Ionactis linariifolia (L.) Greene, also called flax-leaf ankle-aster, flaxleaf whitetop, or simply aster, is a North American plant species belonging to the Asteraceae family. This species grows across much of eastern and central North America, ranging from Florida north to Québec and New Brunswick, and west to extreme eastern Texas. It can be found in a diverse range of habitats, including moist sites, oak pine woods, ridges, and bluffs. Ionactis linariifolia is an herb that grows up to 70 cm (28 inches) tall. Its leaves are green, long, and narrow, reaching up to 4 cm (1.6 inches) in length. The plant typically produces multiple flower heads arranged in a flat-topped cluster. Each flower head has blue, white, or violet ray flowers that surround numerous yellow disc flowers. It was first classified by Carolus Linnaeus under the name Aster linariifolius, which was known as stiff-leafed aster. Edward Lee Greene reclassified it into the separate genus Ionactis in 1897.
