Symphyotrichum yukonense

Symphyotrichum yukonense (formerly Aster yukonensis) is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae endemic to disjunct areas in Alaska and the Canadian territories of Yukon and Northwest Territories. It has the common name of Yukon aster, and it is a perennial, herbaceous plant 5 to 30 centimeters (2 to 12 inches) in height. Its flowers have purple to blue ray florets and yellow to brown disk florets. S. yukonense grows at elevations of 300–1,500 meters (1,000–4,900 feet) in mud flats and on sandy or silty lake shores.^[4] It is a NatureServe Vulnerable (G3) species and is classified Imperiled (S2) in its Canadian range.^[1]

S. yukonense herbarium specimen

S. yukonense specimen close-up

Symphyotrichum yukonense
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (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
Section:	Symphyotrichum sect. Grandiflori
Species:	S. yukonense
Binomial name
Symphyotrichum yukonense (Cronquist) G.L.Nesom[2]
Native distribution[3]
Synonyms[2]
Aster yukonensis Cronquist Virgulus yukonensis (Cronquist) Reveal & Keener