Southern prairie aster facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Southern prairie aster |
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Synonymy
Aster hemisphericus 1933Alexander
Aster gattingeri Alexander 1933 not (Chapm. ex A. Gray) Kuntze 1891 Aster paludosus subsp. hemisphericus (Alexander) Cronquist Aster paludosus var. hemisphericus (Alexander) Waterf. Aster pedionomus Alexander Aster verutifoliu] Alexander Heleastrum hemisphericum (Alexander ex Alexander) Shinners |
The Southern prairie aster (Eurybia hemispherica) is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the daisy family, also known as Asteraceae. This plant is native to the south-central United States. It is known for its pretty purple flowers.
About the Southern Prairie Aster
The Southern prairie aster is a wild plant. It grows from the ground each year. This means it is a perennial plant. It can grow quite tall, sometimes up to 120 centimeters (about 4 feet).
Where the Aster Lives
This plant naturally grows in specific areas. You can find it mainly in the lower Mississippi Valley. It also grows in the southeastern Great Plains. Its range stretches from Kansas down to Texas. It also goes east to Kentucky, Tennessee, and the Florida Panhandle.
The Southern prairie aster prefers certain types of places. It often grows in high, dry grasslands called prairies. It also likes dry savannas, which are like grasslands with scattered trees. Sometimes, it can be found in open, moist areas. It grows best in sandy or loamy soil.
What the Aster Looks Like
The leaves of the Southern prairie aster are long and thin. They are also smooth and a bit shiny. When the plant flowers, it produces many blooms. These flowers appear in late summer and fall.
The flowers grow in a special shape. They form a long cluster, like a spike or a raceme. Each flower head has bright purple petals. These petals are called "ray flowers." They look like the rays of the sun.
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The long, thin leaves and spike-like flower clusters help identify this plant.
