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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