Symphyotrichum oolentangiense

Symphyotrichum oolentangiense (formerly Aster oolentangiensis and Aster azureus), commonly known as skyblue aster[2] or azure aster, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, native to eastern North America.

Symphyotrichum oolentangiense
Inflorescence, Ontario, Canada
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Symphyotrichum
Species:
S. oolentangiense
Binomial name
Symphyotrichum oolentangiense
Synonyms[1]
  • Aster azureus Lindl.
  • Aster capillaceus E.S.Burgess
  • Aster oolentangiensis Riddell
  • Aster poaceus E.S.Burgess
  • Aster vernalis Engelm. ex E.S.Burgess

Description
Leaf, Ontario, Canada

The plants are 20 to 150 cm (one to five feet) tall with one to several herbaceous stems. The alternate simple leaves have a rough texture. The composite flowers, produced between August and October, have blue to violet rays.[3]

Taxonomy

Botanist John Leonard Riddell originally described this species in a publication dated to April 1835 as Aster oolentangiensis[4] after finding it in forests on the Olentangy River near Worthington, Ohio. Riddell originally misspelled the name of the river with two Os.[5] The synonym Aster azureus has also been used, but this was not published until November 1835,[note 1] so Riddell's epithet has priority.

Along with many other species, Symphyotrichum oolentangiense was formerly included in the genus Aster. However, this broad circumscription of Aster is polyphyletic and the North American asters are classified in Symphyotrichum and several other genera.[6]

Distribution and habitat

Symphyotrichum oolentangiense is found in prairies, open woodlands, savannahs and other open habitats. It occurs widely in the midwest and eastern prairies in the United States from Texas to Minnesota, and also extends into Mexico in Coahuila and to Ontario in Canada.[3] The species is endangered in New York.[7]

Ecology

The flowers attract a wide variety of insect species, including bees, bee flies, butterflies, beetles and others. A wide variety of herbivourous insects also consume the vegetation.[8] The seeds are dispersed by wind. The species is typical of higher quality natural areas, especially those with disturbances such as wildfire.[8]

Notes
  1. The name Aster azureus was published in the Companion to the Botanical Magazine 1: 98.[note 2] The cover page only dates this to 1835; this part was published in November.[note 3]

References
  1. "Symphyotrichum oolentangiense (Riddell) G.L.Nesom". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2020-01-22.
  2. "Symphyotrichum oolentangiense". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  3. Brouillet, Luc; Semple, John C.; Allen, Geraldine A.; Chambers, Kenton L.; Sundberg, Scott D. (2006). "Symphyotrichum oolentangiense". 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.
  4. "Aster oolentangiensis Riddell". The International Plant Names Index. Retrieved 2020-01-22.
  5. Riddell, John L. (1835). "Synopsis of the Flora of the Western States". Western Journal of the Medical and Physical Sciences. 8: 490–556.
  6. Semple, J. C. "An overview of "asters" and the Tribe Astereae". University of Waterloo. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  7. "Online Conservation Guide for Sky-blue Aster (Symphyotrichum oolentangiense)". New York Natural Heritage Program. 2017. Retrieved 2018-08-01.
  8. Hilty, John. "Sky Blue Aster". Illinois Wildflowers. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  9. "Aster azureus Lindl". The International Plant Names Index. Retrieved 2020-01-22.
  10. Stafleu, F.A. & Cowan, R.S. (1979). "3005. Companion to the Botanical Magazine". Taxonomic Literature: A selective guide to botanical publications and collections with dates, commentaries and types. II:H–Le. Utrecht: Bohn, Scheltema & Holkema. pp. 293–294. Retrieved 2020-01-22.


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