Symphyotrichum praealtum (formerly Aster praealtus), known as willowleaf aster and willow aster, is a species of flowering plant in the aster familyAsteraceae. It is native to North America and introduced in Europe.[3]
Symphyotrichum praealtum is a perennial, herbaceous plant with long rhizomes.[3] The thick, firm leaves have conspicuous reticulate venation below.[4] Flowering occurs from August to November,[5] by which time the lower leaves are often withered. The dense arrays of flower heads are present on the upper, branched portion of the stem. The ray florets are pale violet or lavender and the disc florets are cream or pale yellow.[3]
Underside of leaf showing reticulate venation
Showing "willow" leaves
Flower heads
Taxonomy
Symphyotrichum praealtum was formerly included in the large genus Aster as Aster praealtus. However, this broad circumscription of Aster is polyphyletic and the North American asters are now mostly classified in Symphyotrichum and several other genera.[6]
Willowleaf aster is native to much of the eastern and central United States, to the Mexican states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, and Nuevo León, and to the extreme southern portion of Ontario, Canada. It has been introduced to central Europe.[3]
Symphyotrichum praealtum is found in moist, open habitats including wet prairies and meadows, shores, oak savannahs, ditches, and roadsides.[3] Periodic disturbance, such as wildfire, drought, or human clearing, is required to maintain open habitats suitable for the species.[5]
Symphyotrichum praealtum spreads via rhizomes to form large clonal colonies. The species does not self-pollinate; cross-pollination with a genetically distinct plant is required for the production of seeds. The seeds are wind-dispersed. In some areas, this species may be the latest-flowering plant, and this may limit the number of insects available to serve as pollinators.[5]
Conservation
Willowleaf aster is considered globally secure.[1] However, it is legally listed as endangered in New Jersey and threatened in Ontario. In Ontario it is threatened by habitat loss, invasive species, and a reduction or elimination of natural wildfire. There are under 15 populations known to remain in the province, most of which are within the city of Windsor. To protect these populations, tens of thousands of willowleaf aster plants were moved out of construction areas and replanted elsewhere during construction of the Rt. Hon. Herb Gray Parkway.[5]
Brouillet, L.; Semple, J.C.; Allen, G.A.; Chambers, K.L.; Sundberg, S.D. (2006). "Symphyotrichum praealtum". In Flora of North America Editorial Committee (ed.). Flora of North America North of Mexico (FNA). Vol. 20. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press. Retrieved 29 September 2018 – via eFloras.
Jones, J. (2013). "Recovery strategy for the Willowleaf Aster (Symphyotrichum praealtum) in Ontario". Ontario Recovery Strategy Series. Prepared for the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough, Ontario. pp. vi + 29. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
NatureServe (2 July 2021). "Symphyotrichum praeltum - Willow Aster". NatureServe Explorer (explorer.natureserve.org). NatureServe. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
Reznicek, A.A.; Voss, E.G.; Walters, B.S., eds. (February 2011). "Symphyotrichumpraealtum". Michigan Flora Online. University of Michigan Herbarium. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
Semple, J.C. (27 April 2021). "An overview of "asters" and the Tribe Astereae". www.uwaterloo.ca. Ontario. from the original on 27 May 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
August 21, 2023
symphyotrichum, praealtum, formerly, aster, praealtus, known, willowleaf, aster, willow, aster, species, flowering, plant, aster, family, asteraceae, native, north, america, introduced, europe, conservation, statussecure, natureserve, scientific, classificatio. Symphyotrichum praealtum formerly Aster praealtus 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 3 Symphyotrichum praealtumConservation statusSecure NatureServe 1 Scientific classificationKingdom PlantaeClade TracheophytesClade AngiospermsClade EudicotsClade AsteridsOrder AsteralesFamily AsteraceaeTribe AstereaeSubtribe SymphyotrichinaeGenus SymphyotrichumSubgenus Symphyotrichum subg SymphyotrichumSection Symphyotrichum sect SymphyotrichumSpecies S praealtumBinomial nameSymphyotrichum praealtum Poir G L Nesom 2 Native distribution 3 Synonyms 2 Basionym Aster praealtus Poir Alphabetical list Aster carneus Torr amp A Gray ex Benth Aster carneus var subasper Lindl Torr amp A GrayAster coerulescens DC Aster coerulescens var angustior Wiegand FernaldAster coerulescens var subasper Lindl ex Hook FernaldAster coerulescens var typicus CronquistAster eminens Willd Aster lanceolatus Nutt Aster nebraskensis BrittonAster novi belgii var litoreus A GrayAster obliquus NeesAster praealtus var angustior WiegandAster praealtus var coerulescens DC A G JonesAster praealtus var imbricatior WiegandAster praealtus var nebraskensis Britton WiegandAster praealtus var subasper WiegandAster praealtus var texicola WiegandAster rigidulus Desf Aster robustus NeesAster salicifolius AitonAster salicifolius f coerulescens DC VossAster salicifolius f obliquus Nees VossAster salicifolius var stenophyllus E S BurgessAster salicifolius var subasper Lindl ex Hook A GrayAster salicifolius f subasper Lindl ex Hook VossAster subasper Lindl Aster virgatus NeesSymphyotrichum novi belgii var litoreum A Gray G L NesomSymphyotrichum praealtum subsp angustior Wiegand A HainesSymphyotrichum praealtum var angustior Wiegand G L NesomSymphyotrichum praealtum var nebraskense Britton G L NesomSymphyotrichum praealtum var subasperum Lindl G L NesomSymphyotrichum praealtum var texicola Wiegand G L Nesom Contents 1 Description 2 Taxonomy 3 Distribution and habitat 4 Ecology 5 Conservation 6 Citations 7 ReferencesDescription EditSymphyotrichum praealtum is a perennial herbaceous plant with long rhizomes 3 The thick firm leaves have conspicuous reticulate venation below 4 Flowering occurs from August to November 5 by which time the lower leaves are often withered The dense arrays of flower heads are present on the upper branched portion of the stem The ray florets are pale violet or lavender and the disc florets are cream or pale yellow 3 Underside of leaf showing reticulate venation Showing willow leaves Flower headsTaxonomy EditSymphyotrichum praealtum was formerly included in the large genus Aster as Aster praealtus However this broad circumscription of Aster is polyphyletic and the North American asters are now mostly classified in Symphyotrichum and several other genera 6 Several varieties of Symphyotrichum praealtum have been recognized but not consistently Hybridization with Symphyotrichum lanceolatum and Symphyotrichum firmum has been reported 3 Distribution and habitat EditWillowleaf aster is native to much of the eastern and central United States to the Mexican states of Chihuahua Coahuila and Nuevo Leon and to the extreme southern portion of Ontario Canada It has been introduced to central Europe 3 Symphyotrichum praealtum is found in moist open habitats including wet prairies and meadows shores oak savannahs ditches and roadsides 3 Periodic disturbance such as wildfire drought or human clearing is required to maintain open habitats suitable for the species 5 Ecology Edit Great golden digger wasp on S praealtum flowerSymphyotrichum praealtum spreads via rhizomes to form large clonal colonies The species does not self pollinate cross pollination with a genetically distinct plant is required for the production of seeds The seeds are wind dispersed In some areas this species may be the latest flowering plant and this may limit the number of insects available to serve as pollinators 5 Conservation EditWillowleaf aster is considered globally secure 1 However it is legally listed as endangered in New Jersey and threatened in Ontario In Ontario it is threatened by habitat loss invasive species and a reduction or elimination of natural wildfire There are under 15 populations known to remain in the province most of which are within the city of Windsor To protect these populations tens of thousands of willowleaf aster plants were moved out of construction areas and replanted elsewhere during construction of the Rt Hon Herb Gray Parkway 5 Citations Edit a b NatureServe 2021 a b POWO 2019 a b c d e f g Brouillet et al 2006 Reznicek Voss amp Walters 2011 a b c d Jones 2013 Semple 2021 References EditBrouillet L Semple J C Allen G A Chambers K L Sundberg S D 2006 Symphyotrichum praealtum In Flora of North America Editorial Committee ed Flora of North America North of Mexico FNA Vol 20 New York and Oxford Oxford University Press Retrieved 29 September 2018 via eFloras Jones J 2013 Recovery strategy for the Willowleaf Aster Symphyotrichum praealtum in Ontario Ontario Recovery Strategy Series Prepared for the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Peterborough Ontario pp vi 29 Retrieved 7 February 2020 NatureServe 2 July 2021 Symphyotrichum praeltum Willow Aster NatureServe Explorer explorer natureserve org NatureServe Retrieved 6 July 2021 POWO 2019 Symphyotrichum praealtum Poir G L Nesom Plants of the World Online Royal Botanic Gardens Kew Retrieved 2 July 2021 Reznicek A A Voss E G Walters B S eds February 2011 Symphyotrichum praealtum Michigan Flora Online University of Michigan Herbarium Retrieved 7 February 2020 Semple J C 27 April 2021 An overview of asters and the Tribe Astereae www uwaterloo ca Ontario Archived from the original on 27 May 2021 Retrieved 6 July 2021 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Symphyotrichum praealtum amp oldid 1170864198, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
