Here are a few shots from this morning's run. Aster simplex, or panicled aster. The more current botanical name for this plant is actually Symphyotrichum lanceolatum, but its older name can still be applied. As I've mentioned before, I think the word 'Aster' is decidedly less of a mouthful than Symphyotrichum.
This specimen was found growing along an unmowed roadside and is very common this time of year. It blooms in mid to late summer until the first frost. It's not as showy as other asters, but you can buy seeds of the native plant from various sources. To me, it's a great addition to a wildflower meadow and the small white flowers would be a great alternative to baby's breath (Gypsophila) for cut flower arrangements.
Finally, like all members of the Asteraceae family, this flower structure is composed of disc florets and ray florets. The disc florets are the very small yellow petals that compose the inside 'eye' of the flower. They are the seed-producing flowers, whereas the ray florets (in this case, the white petals) are decorative; primarily present to attract pollinators.
