Barrens Silky Aster
Symphyotrichum pratense (Raf.) G.L. Nesom is native to prairies, oak woodlands, pine-oak scrub, fields, roadsides primarily in Texas and Louisiana but with scattered disjunct populations to Kentucky and Virginia and Panhandle Florida (). The species is distinguished from S. sericeum by its much less densely hairy leaves and phyllaries, which are much larger and broadly ovate. The species is diploid (2n=10) and tetraploid (2n=20).
The species has been treated as a variety of S. sericeum:ÌýA. sericeus Ventenat var. microphyllusÌý¶Ù°ä.,ÌýSymphyotrichum sericeum (Ventenat) G.L. Nesom var. microphyllum (DC.) Wunderlin and B. F. Hansen.
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
1-6. Symphyotrichum pratense. 1. Habit, Semple & Chmielewski 6434, Walker Co., Texas. 2. Habit, greenhouse grown, Semple & Brouillet 3347, Gonzales Co., Texas. 3. Cormoid rootstock, Whetstone 14804 (JSU), Alabama. 4. Stem and leaves W 14804. 5. Heads, S & Bt 3347. 6. Dried head.