Symphyotrichum laeve

Symphyotrichum laeve (formerly Aster laevis) is a flowering plant native to Canada and the United States.[2] It has the common names of smooth blue aster,[3] smooth aster, smooth-leaved aster, glaucous Michaelmas-daisy[4] and glaucous aster.[2]

Smooth aster
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Symphyotrichum
Species:
S. laeve
Binomial name
Symphyotrichum laeve
Synonyms[1]

Basionym

  • Aster laevis L.

Others listed alphabetically

Description

Smooth aster is 20 to 70 cm (8 to 28 inches) tall.[5] Its leaves are arranged alternately on the stems, and their shape varies between lanceolate, oblong-ovate, oblong-obovate, and ovate.[6] They measure from 30 to 200 mm (1 1⁄4 to 7 3⁄4 inches) long and from 10 to 25 mm (3⁄8 to 1 inch) wide. They are usually hairless, and the leaf edges are entire or bluntly or sharply toothed (crenate or serrate), sometimes with smaller teeth (serrulate).[5]

The flower heads are arranged in clusters (panicles). Each flower head has 13 to 23 ray florets with pale to dark blue or purple petals (laminae), and 19 to 33 disc florets that start out yellow and eventually turn purplish-red.[5] The whole flowerhead measures 1⁄2 to 1 inch (1.3 to 2.5 cm) across.[6]

The seeds are achenes with bristles at their tips (cypselae). Like the hairs on dandelion seeds, the bristles allow the seeds to be spread by the wind.[6]

Varieties

There are four varieties: S. laeve var. laeve, S. laeve var. geyeri, S. laeve var. concinnum, and S. laeve var. purpuratum.[5]

Distribution and habitat

Symphyotrichum laeve is found throughout North America.[7] It is found naturally occurring in fields, open woods and along roadsides.[8] It grows in rocky or dry soil in full sun.[7]

Ecology

Symphyotrichum laeve blooms in late summer and early fall. It is pollinated by many native bees[8] and attracts butterflies.[7] It is a larval host for the pearl crescent butterfly (Phyciodes tharos).[9][6]

References
  1. POWO (2019). "Symphyotrichum laeve". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  2. "Symphyotrichum laeve". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
  3. "Symphyotrichum laeve". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  4. "BSBI List 2007". Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-01-25. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  5. Brouillet, Luc; Semple, John C.; Allen, Geraldine A.; Chambers, Kenton L.; Sundberg, Scott D. (2006). "Symphyotrichum laeve". In Flora of North America Editorial Committee (ed.). Flora of North America North of Mexico (FNA). 20. New York and Oxford. Retrieved 30 September 2016 – via eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
  6. Hilty, John (2016). "Smooth Blue Aster (Symphyotrichum laeve)". Illinois Wildflowers. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  7. "Symphyotrichum laeve". Plant Finder. Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved 2017-01-27.
  8. "Symphyotrichum laeve". Native Plant Database. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, University of Texas at Austin. Retrieved 2017-01-27.
  9. "Plant Detail: Symphyotrichum laeve (smooth blue aster, smooth aster)". Native Plant Database. Evergreen. Archived from the original on 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2017-01-27.
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