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1 Mid-stem leaves linear to lanceolate; stem usually straight (lacking bends alternating at the nodes). | |
2 Phyllaries appressed, apices acute to acuminate (also keyed in Key F); plants 1.5-4 (-6) dm; [ultramafic outcrop barrens, Clay co., NC]; [series Punicei] | |
2 Phyllaries spreading; plants (1.7-) 6-25+ dm; [other habitats, collectively widespread]. | |
3 Phyllaries mostly obtuse to acute, sometimes acuminate, green zones foliaceous; mid and upper stem leaves mostly lanceolate or oblanceolate to linear, faces glabrous, bases slightly auriculate-clasping to short-petiolate and attenuate; stems sparsely hairy in lines above, otherwise glabrous; [series Symphyotrichum]. | |
5 Leaves linear, > 10× as long as wide; leaf bases only subclasping | |
3 Phyllaries mostly long-acuminate to caudate; mid and upper stem leaves mostly ovate, obovate, lanceolate, or oblanceolate, scabrous adaxially (except S. firmum), bases strongly auriculate-clasping (except S. elliottii); stems densely hispid to sparsely hairy in lines; [series Punicei]. | |
7 Stems glabrous, occasionally hispidulous in lines; abaxial cauline leaf midvein glabrous; capitulescence dense, leafy; heads with white to pale lavender
ray florets; shoots arising singly from elongate rhizomes | |
7 Stems densely pubescent, usually purplish; abaxial cauline leaf midvein moderately to densely pubescent; capitulescence widely spreading and heads with
lavender to purple ray florets; shoots often found in clumps of 2-6 arising
from a persistent stout caudex | |