Symphyotrichum shortii

Symphyotrichum shortii, commonly called Short's aster,[1] is a species of flowering plant in the aster family (Asteraceae). It is native to North America, where it is primarily found in interior areas, east of the Mississippi River.[2] Its natural habitat is in thin, rocky soils of woodlands and thickets, often around limestone bluffs.[3][4] It is common throughout much of its range, although it is generally restricted to intact natural communities.[3]

Symphyotrichum shortii
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Symphyotrichum
Species:
S. shortii
Binomial name
Symphyotrichum shortii

Symphyotrichum shortii is an herbaceous perennial, growing up to 3½ feet. It produces heads of flowers with purple rays in late summer and fall. Unlike many related Symphyotrichum, its stem leaves are essentially entire, and do not have a winged petiole. It bears a resemblance to the related Symphyotrichum oolentangiense of farther west, from which S. shortii can be distinguished by its cordate stem leaves and glabrous phyllaries.[5]

The taxonomy of Symphyotrichum remains poorly understood, with the relationships between the taxa unclear.[6]

References

  1. "Symphyotrichum shortii". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  2. "Symphyotrichum shortii". County-level distribution map from the North American Plant Atlas (NAPA). Biota of North America Program (BONAP). 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  3. Hilty, John (2016). "Short's Aster (Symphyotrichum shortii)". Illinois Wildflowers.
  4. Brouillet, Luc; Semple, John C.; Allen, Geraldine A.; Chambers, Kenton L.; Sundberg, Scott D. (2006). "Symphyotrichum shortii". In Flora of North America Editorial Committee (ed.). Flora of North America North of Mexico (FNA). 20. New York and Oxford via eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
  5. Alan Weakley (2015). "Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States".
  6. Yatskievych, George (2006). Flora of Missouri, Volume 2. Missouri Botanical Garden Press. p. 278.


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