Symphyotrichum sericeum

Symphyotrichum sericeum (formerly Aster sericeus) is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae native to central North America. Commonly known as western silver aster,^[3] western silvery aster,^[4] and silky aster,^[5] it is a perennial, herbaceous plant that may reach 70 centimeters (2+1⁄4 feet) tall. Its flowers have purple ray florets and pink then purple disk florets, and its leaves are firm and silvery-green.

Symphyotrichum sericeum
Conservation status
Secure  (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Tribe:	Astereae
Subtribe:	Symphyotrichinae
Genus:	Symphyotrichum
Subgenus:	Symphyotrichum subg. Virgulus
Species:	S. sericeum
Binomial name
Symphyotrichum sericeum (Vent.) G.L.Nesom[2]
Native distribution[2]
Synonyms[2]
Basionym Aster sericeus Vent. Alphabetical list Aster argenteus Michx. Aster montanus Nutt., nom. illeg. Aster sericeus var. montanus A.Gray Aster sibiricus Turcz. ex Torr. & A.Gray Aster subspathulatus Rydb. Lasallea sericea (Vent.) Greene Virgulus sericeus (Vent.) Reveal & Keener

Description

Symphyotrichum sericeum is a perennial herb growing from rhizomes that may reach 70 centimeters (2+1⁄4 feet) tall. Leaf texture is sericeous, giving the leaves a silvery-green appearance. The inflorescences are erect and parallel, and the involucral bracts of the flower heads are ovate to lanceolate in shape and sericeous. The flowers have purple ray florets and pink then purple disk florets. The fruit is a cypsela.^[4]

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  Symphyotrichum sericeum leaves close-up
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  Symphyotrichum sericeum inflorescence

Distribution and habitat

The species is native to central North America in the states and provinces of Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Manitoba, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Ontario, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin.^[2]

It can be found in dry sandy or partially sandy, limestone, or calcareous soil at elevations of 100–500 meters (330–1,640 feet) or higher.^[4]

Conservation

As of July 2021^[update], NatureServe listed Symphyotrichum sericeum as Secure (G5) worldwide, last reviewed in 2002, with state and province statuses as follows: Critically Imperiled (S1) in Ontario and Oklahoma; and, Imperiled (S2) in Manitoba, North Dakota, Michigan, Indiana, and Arkansas.^[1]