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Symphyotrichum patens (Ait.) G.L. Nesom is distinguished by its elongated rhizomes, thick firm strongly cordate-clasping to auriculate upper stem leaves with margins flat (not undulate), inflorescence branches that arise at near right-angles before ascending, and yellow to white disc corollas  turning purplish with age ().  Jones (1980) published a revision of the Sy. patens complex under the name Aster patens Ait. The species includes diploids (2n=10) and tetraploids (2n=20) with x=5. The species is variable in phyllary hair and gland traits and is divided into three varieties:

• ±¹²¹°ù.Ìýgracile (involucres campanulate, 5.5–6.5 mm; plants slender; mid phyllaries 0.7–1 mm, faces densely strigillose, sparsely stipitate-glandular)
• ±¹²¹°ù.Ìýpatens (involucres campanulate, 6–7.5 mm; plants robust; mid phyllaries 1–1.2 mm, faces densely glandular and sparsely strigillose)
• ±¹²¹°ù.Ìýpatentissimum (involucres turbinate, 8–12 mm; phyllaries in 5–7 series, appressed, obtuse, densely strigillose to canescent, eglandular or sparsely glandular)

Jones, R. L. 1980.  A revision of  AsterÌý²õ±ð³¦³Ù¾±´Ç²ÔÌýPatentes (Compositae).  Ph.D. dissertation. Vanderbilt University.  Nashville.

Brouillet, L., J.C. Semple, G.A. Allen, K. Chambers and S. Sundberg. 2006. Symphyotrichum Nees. pp. 465-539. In Flora North America Editorial Committee, eds. Flora of North America. Vol. 20. Asteraceae, Part 2. Astereae and Senecioneae. Oxford University Press, New York.

Last revised 16 May 2025 by J.C. Semple

© 2025 J.C. Semple, including all photographs unless otherwise indicated