Symphyotrichum lanceolatum | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Asterales |
Family: | Asteraceae |
Tribe: | Astereae |
Subtribe: | Symphyotrichinae |
Genus: | Symphyotrichum |
Subgenus: | Symphyotrichum subg. Symphyotrichum |
Section: | Symphyotrichum sect. Symphyotrichum |
Species: | S. lanceolatum |
Binomial name | |
Symphyotrichum lanceolatum | |
Subspecies and varieties [2] | |
Native distribution of Symphyotrichum lanceolatum by state, province, and territory. [3] [4] For infraspecies distributions, see text. | |
Synonyms | |
Basionym
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Symphyotrichum lanceolatum (formerly Aster lanceolatus and Aster simplex) is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae native to North America. Common names include panicled aster, lance-leaved aster, and white panicled aster. It is a perennial, herbaceous plant that may reach 1.5 meters (5 feet) tall or more, sometimes approaching 2 m (6+1⁄2 ft). The lance-shaped leaves are generally hairless but may feel slightly rough to the touch on the top because of tiny bristles. S. lanceolatum blooms July to October. The flowers grow in clusters and branch in panicles. They have 16–50 white ray florets that are up to 14 millimeters (1⁄2 inch) long and sometimes tinged pink or purple. The flower centers consist of disk florets that begin as yellow and become purple as they mature.
The species occurs in a wide variety of mostly moist and open habitats, including riparian areas (areas between land and a river or stream), meadows, and ditches. Panicled aster has a stout rhizome and can spread to form a clonal colony as well as reproduce by wind-blown seed. Because of its rhizomatic spreading and its production of chemicals that can be detrimental to other plants around it, the species can do damage to ecosystems outside of its native range, as it has in Europe where it has been introduced.
Symphyotrichum lanceolatum is currently divided into subspecies and varieties which have minor differences in appearance and vary in chromosome counts as well as distribution, with some overlap. It is a conservationally secure species whose late-summer and fall appearing flowers play an important role for late-season pollinators and nectar-seeking insects such as bumblebees, wasps, and hoverflies. In addition to being used by indigenous peoples of the Americas for medicinal purposes, it has been cultivated as an ornamental garden plant and used in the cut flower industry.
Panicled aster grows from a rhizome and has a thick, erect stem that can reach 1.5 meters (5 feet) tall or more, sometimes approaching 2 m (6+1⁄2 ft). The leaves are generally hairless but may feel slightly rough to the touch on the top because of tiny bristles. The leaf blades have winged petioles and may sheath the stem at their bases. The largest leaves, near the base of the plant, are up to about 15 centimeters (6 inches) long. Those higher on the stem are smaller, and the lower leaves may have toothed edges. [3]
S. lanceolatum blooms July to October. The inflorescence is usually a large, branching panicled array of many flower heads of varying size. Each flower head has many tiny florets put together into what appear as one. There are 16 to 50 ray florets per head, each measuring 3–14 millimeters (1⁄8–1⁄2 inch) long, in white, sometimes tinged pink or purple. The roughly 20–40 disk florets bloom yellow and turn purple. Each has five lobes that may spread when open. [3]
Symphyotrichum lanceolatum has a base number of x = 8. [10] Tetraploid, pentaploid, hexaploid, septaploid, and octaploid cytotypes with respective chromosome counts of 32, 40, 48, 56, and 64 have been reported, depending on the infraspecies, as follows:
Symphyotrichum lanceolatum was formerly included in the large genus Aster as Aster lanceolatus. However, this broad circumscription of Aster is polyphyletic and the North American asters are now mostly classified in Symphyotrichum and several other genera. [15] It is classified in the subgenus Symphyotrichum, section Symphyotrichum, subsection Dumosi, [16] one of the "bushy asters and relatives". [10]
This species may be divided into two subspecies and five varieties, shown here. [3] NatureServe follows this circumscription. [1]
In the case of the subspecies autonyms, sometimes one or the other will be ignored or treated as taxonomic synonyms, as in the case of Plants of the World Online (POWO), for example, shown here: [2]
The hybrid of S. lanceolatum var.lanceolatum with S. novi-belgii var.novi-begii, known as Sympyotrichum ×salignum, originated in cultivation and is now naturalized in Europe. Hybrids also have been reported with S. boreale , S. laeve , S. lateriflorum , S. puniceum and S. racemosum . [13]
Symphyotrichum lanceolatum is commonly known as panicled aster, white panicled aster, and lance-leaved aster. [3] Other common names include tall white aster, [17] eastern line aster, lance-leaf aster, and white-panicle aster. [18]
Along with other asters that bloom in the fall, Symphyotrichum lanceolatum may be called a Michaelmas daisy. Narrow-leaf Michaelmas daisy is also one of its common names. [18] S. lanceolatum var. interior may be called interior white aster, [19] and S. lanceolatum var. latifolium may be called broadleaf panicled aster. [20] S. lanceolatum var. hesperium common names include western line aster, western willow aster, Wooten's aster, and Siskiyou aster. [21] Another species in the family Asteraceae, Eucephalus glabratus , is also commonly known as Siskiyou aster. [22]
Aster comes from the Ancient Greek word ἀστήρ (astḗr), meaning "star," referring to the shape of the flower. The word "aster" was used to describe a star-like flower as early as 1542 in German physician and botanist Leonhart Fuchs' book De historia stirpium commentarii insignes , Latin for Notable Commentaries on the History of Plants. An old common name for Astereae species using the suffix "-wort" is starwort, also spelled star-wort or star wort. An early use of this name can be found in the same work by Fuchs as Sternkraut, translated from German literally as "star herb" ( Stern Kraut ). [23]
The specific epithet (second part of the binomial name) lanceolatum is a Latin adjective meaning "lance-shaped." [24] The genus name Symphyotrichum is a combining of Ancient Greek words meaning "junction of hair." [25]
Symphyotrichum lanceolatum is native to much of Canada, the United States, and northwestern Mexico. [3] [4] In its native range, it occurs in a wide variety of mostly moist and open habitats, including riparian areas, meadows, and ditches. Distribution and habitat vary among the infraspecies. [13] [4]
S. lanceolatum var. lanceolatum is widespread in central and northeastern North America. It is absent in the west and southeast. It grows at 0–900 meters (0–2,950 feet) in stream banks, thicket borders, meadows, fields, and ditches. [13]
S. lanceolatum var. hesperium is a widespread western species native to North America in the Northwest Territories, from British Columbia to Quebec; nearly all the contiguous United States west of the Mississippi River, plus Wisconsin; as well as the Mexican states of Baja California, Sonora and Chihuahua. It grows at 10–2,700 m (30–8,860 ft) on the edges of streams in prairies, wet meadows, open slopes of mountainous pine forests, roadside ditches, and can live in calcareous soil. [4]
S. lanceolatum var.hirsuticaule is native to the northwestern Great Lakes region as well as southeast Manitoba in "mucky soils on glacial deposits," and it can be found at 100–300 m (330–980 ft). [11]
S. lanceolatum var.interior is native to streams in lowlands at 10–400 m (30–1,310 ft) in most of the Great Lakes region of North America as well as the central United States. [12]
S. lanceolatum var.latifolium is a very widespread central and eastern species where grows in thickets, deciduous woods borders, stream banks, and ditches at 0–800 m (0–2,620 ft). It is the only variety native to the southeastern United States. [14]
Symphyotrichum lanceolatum has been introduced and naturalized in many parts of Europe, from Belgium to Serbia to Latvia, where it occurs in disturbed man-made habitats and riparian areas as an invasive species. [26] [27] [28] As of 2020 [update] , it was not on the European Union's List of invasive alien species of Union concern. [29]
In its native range, Symphyotrichum lanceolatum may be a minor weed in agricultural fields. [30] In addition to dispersal by wind-blown seed, it spreads extensively by rhizomes to create large clonal colonies. [31] Although these clones do not dominate habitats in North America, growing in association with grasses, goldenrods, and other asters, [32] in Europe it is an invasive species that excludes native plants in riparian habitats. This invasiveness has been linked to allelopathic compounds in S. lanceolatum tissue and their effects on native European plants. [26] Viable seed production in Europe seems to be limited, and the species largely spreads there via rhizomes. [28]
The species is visited by a wide variety of late-season pollinating and nectar-seeking insects, including bees, hoverflies, flies, moths, and wasps. [24] Cross-fertilization is usually required to produce viable seed, and as such, large clones may have low seed production. [33]
Several midge species are known to form galls on Symphyotrichum lanceolatum where their larvae can develop, including Rhopalomyia asteriflorae in the flowers or buds resulting in their stunted growth, [34] and Rhopalomyia strobiligemma . [24]
The leaf-blister gall midge Asteromyia paniculata and the fungus Schlerotium asteris have a symbiotic relationship on the leaves in that the fungus gains additional nutrition from the larva and, in turn, gives some shelter to the midge. [34]
Leaf-mining insects known to feed on this species include Sumitrosis inaequalis , Ophiomyia curvipalpis , Phytomyza albiceps , and Microrhopala xerene . Younger instars of gorgone checkerspot caterpillars ( Chlosyne gorgone ) will feed on S. lanceolatum. [34]
NatureServe lists the species Symphyotrichum lanceolatum as a whole as Secure (G5) worldwide; Vulnerable (S3) in Iowa; and, Imperiled (S2) in North Carolina and Newfoundland. [1] S. l. subsp.hesperium, S. l. subsp.lanceolatum, S. l. var.interior, and S. l. var.latifolium are all listed as a Secure Subspecies (T5) globally. [35] [36] [19] [20] NatureServe has no global ranking for S. l. var.hirsuticaule. [37]
In individual states and provinces of the United States and Canada, S. lanceolatum subsp.hesperium is Vulnerable (S3) in Wyoming, and Critically Imperiled (S1) in Texas; [35] S. l. var.interior is Possibly Extirpated (SH) in New York state and Quebec, and Critically Imperiled (S1) in New Jersey; [19] and, S. l. var.latifolium is Vulnerable (S3) in Ontario and Georgia. [20] S. l. var.hirsuticaule has no vulnerable or critical state or province rankings. [37]
Within its native range, Symphyotrichum lanceolatum has been used by indigenous peoples for a variety of medicinal purposes: S. l. var.hesperium by the Zuni people in the American Southwest for wounds and nosebleed, [38] and S. l. var.lanceolatum by the Iroquois in what is now eastern Canada to treat fever. [39]
Symphyotrichum lanceolatum has been cultivated as an ornamental garden plant and used in the cut flower industry. [40] Cultivar 'Edwin Beckett', developed before 1902, has pale violet-blue ray florets that make a flower head which is about 25 millimeters (1 inch) wide. [41] As of July 2021 [update] , it was listed in the Royal Horticultural Society Plant Finder with availability at 3–4 nurseries. [42]
Symphyotrichum is a genus of over 100 species and naturally occurring hybrids of herbaceous annual and perennial plants in the composite family, Asteraceae, most which were formerly treated within the genus Aster. The majority are endemic to North America, but several also occur in the West Indies, Central and South America, as well as one species in eastern Eurasia. Several species have been introduced to Europe as garden specimens, most notably New England aster and New York aster.
Symphyotrichum puniceum, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae native to eastern North America. It is commonly known as purplestem aster, red-stalk aster, red-stemmed aster, red-stem aster, and swamp aster. It also has been called early purple aster, cocash, swanweed, and meadow scabish.
Symphyotrichum ericoides, with common names white heath aster, frost aster, and heath aster, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae native to much of central and eastern North America. It has been introduced to parts of Europe and western Asia.
Symphyotrichum lateriflorum is a species of flowering plant in the aster family (Asteraceae). Commonly known as calico aster, starved aster, and white woodland aster, it is native to eastern and central North America. It is a perennial and herbaceous plant that may reach heights up to 120 centimeters and widths up to 30 centimeters.
Symphyotrichum ascendens is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae known by the common names western aster, long-leaved aster, and Rocky Mountain aster. Blooming July–September, it is native to western North America and can be found at elevations of 500–3,200 m (1,600–10,500 ft) in several habitats.
Symphyotrichum defoliatum is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae known by the common name San Bernardino aster. It is endemic to Southern California where it grows in grasslands and meadows, and it is of conservation concern.
Symphyotrichum eatonii is a species of aster known by the common name Eaton's aster. It is native to much of western North America from British Columbia to Saskatchewan, the Sierra Nevada in California, the Rocky Mountains region, to Arizona and New Mexico, where it grows in many habitats, especially wet areas such as meadows and near ditches. It is also known by the scientific name Symphyotrichum bracteolatum.
Symphyotrichum pilosum is a perennial, herbaceous, flowering plant in the Asteraceae family native to central and eastern North America. It is commonly called hairy white oldfield aster, frost aster, white heath aster, heath aster, hairy aster, common old field aster, old field aster, awl aster, nailrod, and steelweed. There are two varieties: Symphyotrichumpilosum var.pilosum, known by the common names previously listed, and Symphyotrichumpilosum var.pringlei, known as Pringle's aster. Both varieties are conservationally secure globally and in most provinces and states where they are native.
Symphyotrichum falcatum is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. Commonly called white prairie aster and western heath aster, it is native to a widespread area of central and western North America.
Symphyotrichum dumosum is a species of flowering plant of the family Asteraceae commonly known as rice button aster and bushy aster. It is native to much of eastern and central North America, as well as Haiti and Dominican Republic. It is a perennial, herbaceous plant that may reach a height of 1 meter.
Symphyotrichum praealtum, known as willowleaf aster and willow aster, is a species of flowering plant in the aster family Asteraceae. It is native to North America and introduced in Europe.
John Cameron Semple is a botanist, cytotaxonomist, professor emeritus, and adjunct professor at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada. He was born in Boston and earned a degree of Bachelor of Science in 1969 from Tufts University, followed in 1971 and 1972 by Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees from Washington University in St. Louis. Semple is known for his work with members of the tribe Astereae, particularly goldenrods, American asters, and goldenasters, and he maintains the University of Waterloo Astereae Lab website. Semple's wife is Brenda, and in 2013, he named a newly discovered goldenrod species Solidago brendiae in honor of her.
Symphyotrichum racemosum is a species of flowering plant native to parts of the United States and introduced in Canada. It is known as smooth white oldfield aster and small white aster. It is a perennial, herbaceous plant in the family Asteraceae. It is a late-summer and fall blooming flower.
Symphyotrichum drummondii is a species of flowering plant of the family Asteraceae native to the central and eastern United States. It is a perennial, herbaceous plant that may reach 120 centimeters in height. The common name Drummond's aster has been used for S. drummondii.
Symphyotrichum fontinale is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae endemic to Florida and a small area of southwest Georgia. It has the common names of Florida water aster and Florida water American-aster. S. fontinale is a perennial, herbaceous plant that may reach 30–90 centimeters in height.
Symphyotrichum welshii is an imperiled species of flowering plant of the aster family (Asteraceae) endemic to only certain western states in the United States, specifically Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Utah, and Wyoming, and is found at elevations of 1,300–2,300 meters. It is perennial and herbaceous and may reach a height of 1 meter. Its bloom time is August–October, and it grows in wet soils that occur in dry areas.
Symphyotrichum tenuifolium is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae and is commonly known as perennial saltmarsh aster. It is a perennial and herbaceous plant native to the eastern United States and the West Indies. There is one variety, S. tenuifolium var. aphyllum in addition to the autonym S. tenuifolium var. tenuifolium.
Symphyotrichum spathulatum is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae native to western North America including northwestern Mexico. Commonly known as western mountain aster, it is a perennial, herbaceous plant that may reach 20 to 80 centimeters tall. Its flowers, which open in July and August, have violet ray florets and yellow disk florets.
Symphyotrichum eulae is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae endemic to Texas. The common names Eula's aster and Texas aster have been used. It is a perennial, herbaceous plant that may reach 5 to 150 centimeters in height. Its flowers have usually white to bluish or lavender-white ray florets and yellow then reddish to brown disk florets. It was named for Eula Whitehouse, American botanist, botanical illustrator, and plant collector.