Eucephalus ledophyllus is a North American species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae known by the common name Cascade aster. It is native to Washington, Oregon and northern California in the United States, mostly in the Cascade Mountains.Eucephalus ledophyllus. The Nature Conservancy. Some of the populations are inside national parks and monuments: Mount Rainier National Park, North Cascades National Park, and Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument.Biota of North America Program, 2014 county distribution mapTurner Photographics, Aster ledophyllus - Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest photos, description, partial distribution map
Eucephalus ledophyllus is a perennial herb up to 80 cm (32 inches) tall, with a large woody caudex. One plant will usually produce 3-20 flower heads in a showy array. Each head has 5–21 purple ray florets surrounding numerous yellow disc florets.Flora of North America, Eucephalus ledophyllus (A.Gray) Greene, 1896. Cascade aster
Varieties Eucephalus ledophyllus var. covillei (Greene) G.L.Nesom - Oregon, California - flower stalks not cottony Eucephalus ledophyllus var. ledophyllus - Washington, Oregon - flower stalks cottony
References
External links Oregon Flora Image Project, University of Hawaii, Eucephalus ledophyllus (A. Gray) E. Greene, Cascades aster - native numerous photos