OF THE CAROLINAS & GEORGIA
teaching key
OF THE CAROLINAS & GEORGIA

that is, Aster, Symphyotrichum, Eurybia, Sericocarpus, Oclemena, Doellingeria, Ionactis, Ampelaster

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INFLORESCENCE STRUCTURE

Flower heads are borne in a panicle or panicle-like array (sometimes appearing raceme-like, especially in young or stunted plants).

Flower heads are borne in a corymb or corymb-like array.

Flower heads are borne singly.

FLOWER COLOR

Ray flowers are blue, lavender or violet, rarely white.

Ray flowers are white, rarely with a tinge of violet.

LEAVES

Leaves of lower to mid-stem have clasping bases.

Leaves of lower to mid-stem have heart-shaped (cordate) bases and obvious petioles.

Leaves of lower to mid-stem have bases that taper (or are somewhat rounded) to a petiole that is short or absent.

Leaves of lower to mid-stem are somewhat grass-like.

inflorescence
Leaves of lower to mid-stem

 

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Ampelaster carolinianus range map Climbing Aster
Symphyotrichum concinnum range map Narrowleaf Smooth Blue Aster, Harmonious Aster
Symphyotrichum elliottii range map Elliott's Aster, Southern Swamp Aster
Symphyotrichum firmum range map Shining Aster, Glossyleaf Aster
Symphyotrichum georgianum range map Georgia Aster
Symphyotrichum grandiflorum range map Big-headed Aster, Rough Aster, Large-headed Aster, Largeflower Aster
Symphyotrichum laeve range map Smooth Blue Aster
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae range map New England Aster, Michaelmas-daisy
Symphyotrichum novi-belgii var. elodes range map New York Aster
Symphyotrichum oblongifolium range map Eastern Aromatic Aster, Shale-barren Aster
Symphyotrichum patens var. patens range map Late Purple Aster, Common Clasping Aster, Late Blue Aster, Skydrop Aster
Symphyotrichum phlogifolium range map Appalachian Clasping Aster, Thinleaf Late Purple Aster
Symphyotrichum prenanthoides range map Zigzag Aster, Crooked-stem Aster
Symphyotrichum puniceum var. puniceum range map Purplestem Aster, Swamp Aster
Symphyotrichum undulatum range map Wavyleaf Aster
Symphyotrichum walteri range map Walter's Aster

 

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Symphyotrichum cordifolium range map Heartleaf Aster, Common Blue Wood Aster
Symphyotrichum lowrieanum range map Smooth Heartleaf Aster, Lowrie's Blue Wood Aster, Lowrie's Aster
Symphyotrichum shortii range map Short's Aster, Midwestern Blue Heart-leaved Aster
Symphyotrichum undulatum range map Wavyleaf Aster
Symphyotrichum urophyllum range map White Arrowleaf Aster, Arrowleaf Blue Wood Aster

 

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Symphyotrichum concolor var. concolor range map Eastern Silvery Aster
Symphyotrichum divaricatum range map Midwestern Saltmarsh Aster, Annual Water Aster, Yard Aster
Symphyotrichum dumosum var. dumosum range map Bushy Aster, Long-stalked Aster, Rice Button Aster
Symphyotrichum elliottii range map Elliott's Aster, Southern Swamp Aster
Symphyotrichum praealtum var. angustior range map Willowleaf Aster, Veiny-lined Aster, Tall Aster, Willow Aster
Symphyotrichum racemosum var. racemosum range map Small White Aster
Symphyotrichum racemosum var. subdumosum range map Small White Oldfield Aster
Symphyotrichum retroflexum range map Curtis's Aster, Rigid Whitetop Aster
Symphyotrichum rhiannon range map Buck Creek Aster, Rhiannon's Aster
Symphyotrichum sericeum range map Western Silvery Aster
Symphyotrichum simmondsii range map Simmonds’s Aster
Symphyotrichum subulatum range map Eastern Saltmarsh Aster, Annual Saltmarsh Aster
Symphyotrichum tenuifolium range map Perennial Saltmarsh Aster

 

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Symphyotrichum oblongifolium range map Eastern Aromatic Aster, Shale-barren Aster

 

This database doesn't include any Asters that meet those criteria.

 

This database doesn't include any Asters that meet those criteria.

 

Click the SUBMIT button to examine Asters that meet your criteria (listed below).
Symphyotrichum urophyllum range map White Arrowleaf Aster, Arrowleaf Blue Wood Aster

 

Click the SUBMIT button to examine Asters that meet your criteria (listed below).
Symphyotrichum dumosum var. dumosum range map Bushy Aster, Long-stalked Aster, Rice Button Aster
Symphyotrichum lanceolatum var. lanceolatum range map Panicled Aster, White Panicle Aster, Tall White Aster
Symphyotrichum lanceolatum var. latifolium range map Broadleaf Panicled Aster, White Panicle Aster, Broad-leaved White Panicled Aster
Symphyotrichum lateriflorum range map Calico Aster, Starved Aster, Goblet Aster
Symphyotrichum pilosum var. pilosum range map Frost Aster, White Heath Aster
Symphyotrichum racemosum var. racemosum range map Small White Aster
Symphyotrichum racemosum var. subdumosum range map Small White Oldfield Aster
Symphyotrichum simmondsii range map Simmonds’s Aster
Symphyotrichum subulatum range map Eastern Saltmarsh Aster, Annual Saltmarsh Aster
Symphyotrichum tenuifolium range map Perennial Saltmarsh Aster

 

This database doesn't include any Asters that meet those criteria.

 

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Eurybia eryngiifolia range map Eryngo-leaved Aster, Thistleleaf Aster

 

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Eurybia compacta range map Slender Aster
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae range map New England Aster, Michaelmas-daisy
Symphyotrichum oblongifolium range map Eastern Aromatic Aster, Shale-barren Aster
Symphyotrichum prenanthoides range map Zigzag Aster, Crooked-stem Aster

 

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Eurybia macrophylla range map Large-leaf Aster, Bigleaf Aster
Eurybia mirabilis range map Piedmont Aster, Bouquet Aster

 

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Aster tataricus range map Tatarian Aster
Eurybia radula range map Rough-leaved Aster, Low Rough Aster
Eurybia spectabilis range map Low Showy Aster, Eastern Showy Aster
Eurybia surculosa range map Creeping Aster, Michaux's Wood-Aster
Ionactis linariifolia range map Stiffleaf Aster, Flaxleaf Aster, Spruce Aster

 

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Symphyotrichum oblongifolium range map Eastern Aromatic Aster, Shale-barren Aster

 

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Eurybia avita range map Alexander's Rock Aster
Eurybia paludosa range map Savannah Grass-leaved Aster, Southern Swamp Aster
Eurybia surculosa range map Creeping Aster, Michaux's Wood-Aster

 

This database doesn't include any Asters that meet those criteria.

 

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Eurybia chlorolepis range map Blue Ridge White Heart-leaved Aster, Mountain Wood-aster
Eurybia divaricata range map White Wood-aster, Woodland Aster, Common White Heart-leaved Aster
Eurybia macrophylla range map Large-leaf Aster, Bigleaf Aster
Eurybia mirabilis range map Piedmont Aster, Bouquet Aster
Eurybia schreberi range map Schreber's Aster

 

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Doellingeria infirma range map Appalachian Flat-topped White Aster, Cornel-leaf Aster, Cornel-leaf Whitetop Aster, Appalachian Whitetop Aster
Doellingeria sericocarpoides range map Pocosin Flat-top Aster, Southern Whitetop, Streamhead Flat-top Aster, Southern Flat-top Aster
Doellingeria umbellata var. umbellata range map Northern Tall Flat-top White Aster, Northern Tall Whitetop Aster, Northern Tall Flat-top Aster
Oclemena acuminata range map Whorled Nodding-aster, Whorled Wood-aster, Whorled Aster, Floral Wood Aster
Oclemena reticulata range map Pine-barren Aster, Whitetop Aster
Sericocarpus asteroides range map Toothed Whitetop Aster
Sericocarpus caespitosus range map Toothed Whitetop Aster
Sericocarpus linifolius range map Narrowleaf Whitetop Aster, Slender Whitetop Aster
Sericocarpus tortifolius range map Twisted-leaf Whitetop Aster, Dixie Whitetop Aster

 

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Oclemena reticulata range map Pine-barren Aster, Whitetop Aster

 

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Eurybia avita range map Alexander's Rock Aster

 

This database doesn't include any Asters that meet those criteria.

 

This database doesn't include any Asters that meet those criteria.

 

Click the SUBMIT button to examine Asters that meet your criteria (listed below).
Ionactis linariifolia range map Stiffleaf Aster, Flaxleaf Aster, Spruce Aster

 

This database doesn't include any Asters that meet those criteria.

 

This database doesn't include any Asters that meet those criteria.

 

This database doesn't include any Asters that meet those criteria.

 

This database doesn't include any Asters that meet those criteria.

 

This database doesn't include any Asters that meet those criteria.

 

This database doesn't include any Asters that meet those criteria.

 

Click the SUBMIT button to examine Asters that meet your criteria (listed below).
Eurybia eryngiifolia range map Eryngo-leaved Aster, Thistleleaf Aster

 

This key was inspired by Ron Lance's handout “Guide to the Asters of Western North Carolina,” and built on that, as well as on the Manual of the Vascular Flora of the Carolinas, Weakley's Flora of the Southeastern United States, and Flora of North America.

Reformatted October 2023.

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