Ionactis linariifolia (L.) Greene

Nomenclature and Taxonomic Placement

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.

Geographic Distribution

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.

Habitat Range

It can be found in a diverse range of habitats, including moist sites, oak pine woods, ridges, and bluffs.

Growth Form and Height

Ionactis linariifolia is an herb that grows up to 70 cm (28 inches) tall.

Leaf Characteristics

Its leaves are green, long, and narrow, reaching up to 4 cm (1.6 inches) in length.

Inflorescence Structure

The plant typically produces multiple flower heads arranged in a flat-topped cluster.

Flower Head Composition

Each flower head has blue, white, or violet ray flowers that surround numerous yellow disc flowers.

Basionym History

It was first classified by Carolus Linnaeus under the name Aster linariifolius, which was known as stiff-leafed aster.

Genus Reclassification

Edward Lee Greene reclassified it into the separate genus Ionactis in 1897.