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,[3] red-stalk aster,[4] red-stemmed aster,[5] red-stem aster, and swamp aster.[6] It also has been called early purple aster, cocash, swanweed, and meadow scabish.[7]

Symphyotrichum puniceum
In Beaver County, Pennsylvania

Secure  (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Tribe: Astereae
Subtribe: Symphyotrichinae
Genus: Symphyotrichum
Subgenus: Symphyotrichum subg. Symphyotrichum
Section: Symphyotrichum sect. Symphyotrichum
Species:
S. puniceum
Binomial name
Symphyotrichum puniceum
Varieties[2]
Symphyotrichum puniceum native distribution: Canada — Alberta, British Columbia, Labrador, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Québec, and Saskatchewan; US — Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Native distribution[2]
Synonyms[2]

Basionym

  • Aster puniceus L.
Alphabetical list
    • Aster calderi B.Boivin
    • Aster carneus var. ambiguus Torr. & A.Gray
    • Aster conduplicatus E.S.Burgess
    • Aster demissus J.Forbes
    • Aster forwoodii S.Watson
    • Aster puniceus f. albiflorus Ralph Hoffm.
    • Aster puniceus f. albiligulatus Pease & A.H.Moore
    • Aster puniceus f. brachypyllus Lepage
    • Aster puniceus var. calderi Lepage
    • Aster puniceus var. calvus Shinners
    • Aster puniceus f. candidus Fernald
    • Aster puniceus var. colbyi Benke
    • Aster puniceus f. colbyi (Benke) Shinners
    • Aster puniceus var. compactus Fernald
    • Aster puniceus var. crawfordii Porter
    • Aster puniceus f. demissus (Lindl.) Fernald
    • Aster puniceus var. demissus Lindl.
    • Aster puniceus f. etiamalbus Venard
    • Aster puniceus f. glabratus Shinners
    • Aster puniceus var. laevicaulis A.Gray
    • Aster puniceus var. lancifolius Fernald
    • Aster puniceus var. lucidus MacMill.
    • Aster puniceus var. monocephalus Farw.
    • Aster puniceus var. oligocephalus Fernald
    • Aster puniceus var. perlongus Fernald
    • Aster puniceus var. purpureus Pursh
    • Aster puniceus var. rufescens Pursh
    • Aster puniceus f. rufescens Fassett
    • Aster puniceus var. vimineus Torr. & A.Gray
    • Symphyotrichum puniceum var. calderi (B.Boivin) G.L.Nesom
    • Symphyotrichum puniceum f. candidum (Fernald) G.Wilh. & Rericha

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.[3] It is adventive in Europe.[2]

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.[8]

  • Stem and leaves
    Stem and leaves
  • Involucre showing phyllaries and bracts
    Involucre showing phyllaries and bracts
  • Flower head
    Flower head

Taxonomy

Symphyotrichum puniceum is a variable species, and many forms have been named.[9] As of July 2021, Plants of the World Online (POWO) accepts one variety in addition to the autonym.[2] S. puniceum var. scabricaule (Shinners) G.L.Nesom occurs in the southern United States from Texas to Alabama.[10] The autonym, S. puniceum var. puniceum, occurs in most of the eastern United States and southern Canada.[11]

The species Symphyotrichum firmum is sometimes considered a variety of S. puniceum, but POWO and Flora of North America treat them as distinct species.[2][8] In 1999, Calvin College botanists David P. Warners and Daniel C. Laughlin gave evidence that they should be considered two distinct species.[12] 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.[13]

  • Symphyotrichum puniceum on left and S. firmum on right
    Symphyotrichum puniceum on left and S. firmum on right

Hybrids between this species and Symphyotrichum boreale have been recorded and are called Symphyotrichum × longulum.[14]

refer to caption
Possible holotype of Aster longulus, basionym of hybrid Symphyotrichum × longulum

Conservation

As of July 2021, NatureServe listed Symphyotrichum puniceum as Secure (G5) worldwide and Critically Imperiled (S1) in Mississippi.[1] It listed S. puniceum var. puniceum as Vulnerable (S3) in Kentucky,[15] and S. puniceum var. scabricaule as overall an Imperiled Variety (T2) and Critically Imperiled (S1) in Texas.[16]

Uses

Medicinal

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.[17] Multiple uses have been reported for the Woodland Cree, including as an aid for tooth pain[18] and for healing a woman after childbirth.[19] The Iroquois have used the roots for healing of various ailments including colds,[20] fevers,[21] pneumonia,[22] typhoid,[23] and tuberculosis.[24]

Citations
  1. NatureServe 2021a.
  2. POWO 2019.
  3. USDA 2014.
  4. LeGrand, Sorrie & Howard 2021.
  5. Bebeau 2015.
  6. Chayka & Dziuk 2016.
  7. Blanchan 1917, p. 190.
  8. Brouillet et al. 2006a.
  9. IPNI 2021.
  10. Brouillet et al. 2006b.
  11. Brouillet et al. 2006c.
  12. Warners & Laughlin 1999.
  13. Reznicek, Voss & Walters 2011.
  14. Brouillet et al. 2006d.
  15. NatureServe 2021b.
  16. NatureServe 2021c.
  17. Densmore 1928.
  18. Leighton 1985, 39209.
  19. Leighton 1985, 39206.
  20. Herrick 1977, 39211.
  21. Herrick 1977, 39212.
  22. Herrick 1977, 39214.
  23. Herrick 1977, 39213.
  24. Herrick 1977, 39215.

References
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