Snowy Aster is also known as Melanthera.

Plants is an erect to arching, hairy perennial that sometimes reaches heights of six to nine feet. Preferred habit is roadsides, pine woods, beaches and dune areas. Distribution is throughout the Escambia region.

Leaves are opposite on the stem; consisting of one whole part with leaf stalks; oval-shaped or triangular and several times longer than wide; forms an angle to the left, tapering and pinched; leaf margins are slightly lobed or coarsely toothed.

Flower is a head at end of long stem (or may appear in clusters); disc flowers are bisexual; white to rosy; ray flowers are usually not present but appear as a long funnel-shaped tube; anthers are black and extend beyond the corolla. Flowers occur in the summer.

Fruit is a seed which outer layer is fused to it.