Aster subulatus.© Donald Davidson.www.nps.gov/plants/cw/watercolor/index.htm (Accessed 5/2014).

Symphyotrichum subulatum is an annual herb 10-100 cm tall, rather fleshy, from a taproot. 

Leaves alternate, linear, entire, to 20 cm long, 1 cm wide. 

Flowers greenish, tubular, of two types; rays short, inconspicuous, pale blue, numerous, disk flowers 5-15, yellow; in narrow heads with basal bracts (involucre) 0.5-0.8 cm tall, bracts overlapping, narrow, usually green with purple tips; inflorescence branched, heads solitary or few along a branch. 

Fruit dry, 1-seeded, white-plumed achenes. 

Wetland status: OBL. 

Frequency in NYC: Infrequent. 

Origin: Native. 

Habitat: Salt marshes and brackish, open areas.