Azure Aster or Skyblue Aster
Symphyotrichum oolentangiense (Riddell) Nesom is native to open, dry, sandy, loamy, or rocky soils, dry to wet (seasonally drying) prairies, alvars, glades, bluffs, dunes, barrens, open deciduous woods, oak and/or pine savannahs in eastern North America (Brouillet et al. 2006; FNA). The species was known as Aster azureus Lindley for a long time but the name Aster oolentangiensis Riddell is slightly older and has nomenclatural priority.
Brouillet, L., J.C. Semple, G.A. Allen, K. Chambers and S. Sundburg. 2006. Symphyotrichum Nees. pp. 465-539. In Flora North America Editorial Committee, eds. Flora of North America. Vol. 20. Asteraceae, Part 2. Astereae and Senecioneae. Oxford University Press, New York.
Revised 13 May 2021 by J.C. Semple
© 2021 J.C. Semple, including all photographs unless otherwise indicated