Now Symphyotrichum lateriflorum. Calico Asters are quite variable. “Consists of many races,” say Britton & Brown of this species, “differing in leaf-form, inflorescence and pubescence.” In other words, asters thumb their noses at the notion of a “species.” Some Calico Asters have their flowers so densely packed that you can’t see the leaves, as with this example from an overgrown bank in Beechview. Compare it to this other Calico Aster, from one block away in the same neighborhood.

From Gray’s Manual: A. lateriflorus (L.) Britton. More or less pubescent, much branched ; leaves lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, tapering or pointed at each end, sharply serrate in the middle; bracts of the involucre linear, acute or rather obtuse, imbricated in 3-4 rows. (A. diffusus Ait.) Thickets, fields, etc., very common from N. S. to Ont., and southw. Aug.-Oct. Extensively variable ; leaves larger than in either of the two preceding ; the involucre intermediate between them, as to the form of the bracts. Rays mostly short, white or pale bluish-purple.

These are the tiny and slightly sloppy-looking aster flowers that peek out from hedges and pop up in cracks of sidewalks in September and October. The buds of the disk florets are bright yellow, but they turn deep brownish purple as they open. Both colors are usually present at the same time, giving the plant its calico pattern.

From Gray’s Manual: A. lateriflorus (L.) Britton. More or less pubescent, much branched ; leaves lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, tapering or pointed at each end, sharply serrate in the middle; bracts of the involucre linear, acute or rather obtuse, imbricated in 3-4 rows. (A. diffusus Ait.) Thickets, fields, etc., very common from N. S. to Ont., and southw. Aug.-Oct. Extensively variable ; leaves larger than in either of the two preceding ; the involucre intermediate between them, as to the form of the bracts. Rays mostly short, white or pale bluish-purple.

Also known as Beggar-Ticks or Sticktight. It looks like a big single marigold from which someone has plucked off all the rays. As with Spanish Needles, the hooked seeds stick to animal fur or clothing. The species is variable, and Gray notes that it hybridizes even across genera. This plant grew at the edge of an alley in the South Side flats.

From Gray’s Manual: B. Frondosa, L. (COMMON BEGGAR-TICKS, STICK-TIGHT.) Smooth or rather hairy, tall (2-6° high), branching; leaves 3-5 divided; leaflets mostly stalked, lanceolate, pointed, coarsely toothed; outer involucre much longer than the head, ciliate below; achenes wedge-shaped, 2-awned, ciliate (the bristles ascending except near the summit). —Moist waste places; a coarse troublesome weed, the achenes, as in the other species, adhering to clothing, etc., by their retrorsely barbed awns. Hybrids occur with Coreopsis aristosa and other species. July-Oct.