Symphyotrichum puniceum

Symphyotrichum puniceum (formerly Aster puniceus), is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae native to eastern North America. It is commonly known as purplestem aster,Template:Sfn red-stalk aster,Template:Sfn red-stemmed aster,Template:Sfn red-stem aster, and swamp aster.Template:Sfn It also has been called early purple aster, cocash, swanweed, and meadow scabish.Template:Sfn

Its range extends from the edges of the Great Plains to the Atlantic coast, and from the Gulf coast of Texas north to southern Ungava Bay in the north of Quebec.Template:Sfn It is adventive in Europe.Template:Sfn

Description

Symphyotrichum puniceum produces flowers between August and October. The ray florets range from dark blue or purple to white (rarely). The disc florets are yellow to cream-colored, becoming pink or purple with maturity.Template:Sfn

Taxonomy

Symphyotrichum puniceum is a variable species, and many forms have been named.Template:Sfn since July 2021Template:Dated maintenance category (articles), Plants of the World Online (POWO) accepts one variety in addition to the autonym.Template:Sfn S. puniceum var. scabricaule occurs in the southern United States from Texas to Alabama.Template:Sfn The autonym, S. puniceum var. puniceum, occurs in most of the eastern United States and southern Canada.Template:Sfn

The species Symphyotrichum firmum is sometimes considered a variety of S. puniceum, but POWO and Flora of North America treat them as distinct species.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn In 1999, Calvin College botanists David P. Warners and Daniel C. Laughlin gave evidence that they should be considered two distinct species.Template:Sfn Compared to S. firmum, Symphyotrichum puniceum is typically hairier, with purpler flowers, and does not form dense colonies but rather small clusters or scattered individuals.Template:Sfn

Hybrids between this species and Symphyotrichum boreale have been recorded and are called Symphyotrichum × longulum.Template:Sfn

refer to caption

Possible holotype of Aster longulus, basionym of hybrid Symphyotrichum × longulum

Conservation

since July 2021Template:Dated maintenance category (articles), NatureServe listed Symphyotrichum puniceum as Secure (G5) worldwide and Critically Imperiled (S1) in Mississippi.Template:Sfn It listed S. puniceum var. puniceum as Vulnerable (S3) in Kentucky,Template:Sfn and S. puniceum var. scabricaule as overall an Imperiled Variety (T2) and Critically Imperiled (S1) in Texas.Template:Sfn

Uses

Symphyotrichum puniceum has been used for medicinal purposes among indigenous people in North America. It has been documented that the Chippewa have smoked the root with tobacco to attract game.Template:Sfn Multiple uses have been reported for the Woodland Cree, including as an aid for tooth painTemplate:Sfn and for healing a woman after childbirth.Template:Sfn The Iroquois have used the roots for healing of various ailments including colds,Template:Sfn fevers,Template:Sfn pneumonia,Template:Sfn typhoid,Template:Sfn and tuberculosis.Template:Sfn

References

• Template:Cite eFloras
• Template:Cite eFloras
• Template:Cite eFloras
• Template:Cite eFloras
• Template:Cite Minnesota Wildflowers
• Template:Cite thesis
• Template:Cite NatureServe
• Template:Cite NatureServe
• Template:Cite NatureServe
• Template:Cite POWO
• Template:Cite Michigan Flora
• Template:Cite PLANTS