Alternate name: Tall Gayfeather
Family: Asteraceae, Aster view all from this family
Description A spike of rounded, rayless, pinkish to lavender (sometimes white) flower heads along stiff erect stems covered with grayish hairs.
Flowers: Head about 3/4" (2 cm) wide; bracts broadly rounded, flaring, with pinkish, translucent edges.
Leaves: Rough, lanceolate to linear; lower ones 4-12" (10-30 cm) long, upper ones progressively smaller.
Height: 16-48" (40-120 cm).
Flower August-October.
Habitat Open plains and thin woods in sandy soil.
Range Ontario and New York south to Florida, west to Texas, and north to North Dakota.
Discussion This species is distinguished by its roughness and rounded bracts. The origin of the genus name is unknown; the species name is Latin for "rough."
