Symphyotrichum pratense

Barrens Silky Aster

Symphyotrichum pratense (Raf.) G.L. Nesom is native to prairies, oak woodlands, pine-oak scrub, fields, roadsides primarily in Texas and Louisiana but with scattered disjunct populations to Kentucky and Virginia and Panhandle Florida  (Brouillet et al. 2006 FNA).  The species is distinguished from S. sericeum by its much less densely hairy leaves and phyllaries, which are much larger and broadly ovate.  The species is diploid (2n=10) and tetraploid (2n=20).

The species has been treated as a variety of S. sericeum: A. sericeus Ventenat var. microphyllus DC., Symphyotrichum sericeum (Ventenat) G.L. Nesom var. microphyllum (DC.) Wunderlin and B. F. Hansen.

Last updated 18 February 2014 by J.C. Semple

© 2014 J.C. Semple, including all photographs unless otherwise indicated