Aster laevis, L.

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1976, Flora Europaea. Volume 4. Plantaginaceae to Compositae (and Rubiaceae), Cambridge University Press : 114

6. A. laevis L. , Sp. Pl. 876 (1753).

Perennial 30-100 cm. Stem glabrous or nearly so, reddish-purple. Leaves ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate, the lower petiolate, glabrous, glaucous, auriculate at base, entire or obscurely toothed, sometimes scabrid. Capitula in a long panicle. Involucral bracts in several rows, acute, very unequal, the longest 5-7 mm, with appressed, shortly tapered apex and a rhombic to lanceolate green patch in the centre. Ligules violet-blue, c. 2 mm wide. Scrub, damp woods and river-banks. Naturalized, mainly in N. & C. Europe. [Au Be Br Cz Ga Ge Ho Ju No Po Rm.] (North America.) (7-9). A. novi-belgii group. Perennial 20-200 cm. Stem erect, often purplish, glabrous or with hairs in longitudinal bands. Leaves ovate to linear-lanceolate, with auriculate base, remotely toothed. Involucral bracts in several rows, acute. Ligules at least 1-5 mm wide. Because of the hybrid origin of some members of this group, certain identification is often impossible. 1 Middle cauline leaves 2|-5 times as long as wide; branches of each order in the inflorescence usually with a long series of nearly equal leaves 9. x versicolor 1 Middle cauline leaves mostly 4-10 times as long as wide; branches of each order in the inflorescence with few nearly equal leaves

2 Outer involucral bracts tapered only near the apex, mainly green 7. novi-belgii 2 Outer involucral bracts tapered for most of their length, often scarious at the sides towards the base 8. x salignus