Ionactis linariifolia (Linnaeus) Greene. Stiff-leaved Aster. Phen: Jul-Nov. Hab: Dry pine savannas, longleaf pine sandhills, pine flatwoods, prairie-like openings, glades, and barrens, high elevation rock outcrops and glades, to at least 1450 m, dry roadbanks, woodland edges, rocky woodlands. Dist: ME and QC west to WI, south to ne. FL, Panhandle FL, and TX.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Taxonomy Comments: There appears to be substantial variation in I. linariifolia, with montane (and northern) populations having considerably longer and broader leaves than Coastal Plain (and southern) populations; additional study is needed. Nesom (2020h) described a new species, I. repens, from the Gulf Coastal Plain, but substantial variation remains taxonomically unaccounted for, including plants in xeric longleaf pine sandhills of the Carolinas that have narrow leaves, one or a few heads on long 'peduncles', but lack the creeping rhizomes of I. repens.

Synonymy: = Nesom (2020h); < Aster linariifolius L. – C, G, GrPl, Oh3, RAB, SE1, W, WV; >< Aster linariifolius L. var. linariifolius – F; > Aster linariifolius L. var. victorinii Fernald – F; < Ionactis linariifolia (L.) Greene – Ar, Fl7, FNA20, K3, K4, NE, NY, Tn, Tx, Va, WH3, Nesom & Leary (1992); < Ionactis linariifolius (L.) Greene – Il, Pa, S, orthographic variant

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