Aster (Symphyotrichum) species - Michaelmas-daisies

There are many species and subspecies. The one with fleshy succulent leaves usually beside the sea is Sea Aster Aster tripolium. This is only found in Lanarkshire, in the lower Clyde area in Glasgow, but in addition there are three other common species. This family was renamed from Aster to Symphyotrichum in Stace 4th Ed.

Aster novi-belgii Confused Michaelmas-daisy, is the commonest Aster. It can be distinguished because the outer involucral bracts are loosely applied to the flower head (capitulum). These bracts are also widest just about the middle or more distally. They are also all green without white borders and the inner and outer bracts are about the same length.

The leaves are narrow, the yellow-green leaves in the middle of the stem are 4 - 10 times as long as wide. The largest leaves are over 1 cm wide and partly clasp the stem. The plant has no glandular hairs.

Aster laevis x novi-belgii = A. x versicolor Late Michaelmas-daisy, is a common garden escape. The flowers are large, relative to A. novi-belgii and it is taller.

The Involucral bracts are widest below the mid-point and inner bracts are neatly appressed. The outer involucral bracts are shorter, half to three quarters as long as the inner ones. They have wide white borders in the proximal half and narrow ones in the distal half leaving an elliptical green patch in the centre near the apex. 

The leaves are narrow, the yellow-green leaves in the middle of the stem are 2.5 - 5 times as long as wide and clearly clasp the stem. The plant has no glandular hairs. It often has dark red / purple stems.

Aster lanceolatus x novi-belgii = A. x salignus Common Michaelmas Daisy. The stem is much branched and leaves are yellow-green. Leaves are from the middle of the stem are 4-10 times as long as wide, and only partly clasp the stem and are acute at the tip. Involucral bracts are widest below the mid-point and inner are neatly appressed. The inner and outer involucral bracts are about the same length and are uniformly green in the upper half with reddish tips.