Symphyotrichum dumosum facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bushy aster, Rice button aster
Conservation status
Secure (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Genus:	Symphyotrichum
Species:	dumosum
Synonyms
Listed alphabetically List Aster coridifolius Michx. Aster dumosus L. Aster dumosus f. monocephalus Farw. Aster dumosus var. albus Pursh Aster dumosus var. coridifolius (Michx.) Torr. & A.Gray Aster dumosus var. dodgei Fernald Aster dumosus var. foliosus Alph.Wood Aster dumosus var. gracilentus Torr. & A.Gray Aster dumosus var. gracilipes Wiegand Aster dumosus var. pergracilis Wiegand Aster dumosus var. strictior Torr. & A.Gray Aster dumosus var. subracemosus Torr. & A.Gray Aster dumosus var. subulifolius Torr. & A.Gray Aster dumosus var. verus Torr. & A.Gray Aster dumosus var. violaceus Pursh Aster foliaceus var. coridifolius (Michx.) Nutt. Aster foliosus Pers. Aster fragilis Lindl. Aster gracilipes Alexander ex Small Aster sparsiflorus Michx. Leiachenis dumosa Raf. Leiachenis sparsiflorus Raf. Symphyotrichum dumosum var. dodgei (Fernald) G.L.Nesom Symphyotrichum dumosum var. gracilipes (Wiegand) G.L.Nesom Symphyotrichum dumosum var. pergracile (Wiegand) G.L.Nesom Symphyotrichum dumosum var. strictior (Torr. & A.Gray) G.L.Nesom Symphyotrichum dumosum var. subulifolium (Torr. & A.Gray) G.L.Nesom

Symphyotrichum dumosum (formerly Aster dumosus) is a species of flowering plant in the aster family. It is native to a widespread area across the eastern half of the United States from Texas to Florida to Maine to Wisconsin. It is also native to Ontario, introduced in New Brunswick, and cultivated in other places. It is commonly known as rice button aster and bushy aster.

Name

Symphyotrichum dumosum is known as bushy aster, rice button aster, rice-button aster, long-stalk aster; aster nain d'automne and aster touffu in French; and, Kissen-Aster, Kissen-Herbstaster, and buschige Aster in German.

Description

This herbaceous perennial grows up to 100 cm (40 in) tall. The flower heads are born in paniculiform arrays. The ray florets are blue, pink, purple or white, while the disc florets are pale yellow, turning pink with age.

Taxonomy

This species was long known as Aster dumosus before it was moved into its current genus due to a phylogenetic analysis. The genus Aster has been narrowed considerably in scope in recent years, due to new information about the relationships of the species in the group.

The following varieties are recognized by some sources:

• Symphyotrichum dumosum var. dumosum
• Symphyotrichum dumosum var. gracilipes (Wiegand) G.L.Nesom
• Symphyotrichum dumosum var. pergracile (Wiegand) G.L.Nesom
• Symphyotrichum dumosum var. strictior (Torr. & A.Gray) G.L.Nesom
• Symphyotrichum dumosum var. subulifolium (Torr. & A.Gray) G.L.Nesom

Gallery

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  Detail of flowering head

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  Involucre, phyllaries, and bracts

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  Stem and flower head

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  Honey Bee on flower head