aka Aster ledophyllus, Tea-leaved Aster. The widely separated lavender purple rays give a delicate appearance to a flower which often looks nearly “spent” in its condition. The six to twenty somewhat drooping rays surround a yellow disk forming flowerheads up to 2″ (5 cm) wide sitting atop stems up to 3′ tall. The lanceolate to elliptical leaves cover the entire stem and resemble Labrador tea in the heath family. Common in open meadows and rocky slopes at between 4,000′ to 6,500′ elevation.