Small Blue Aster
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Symphyotrichum
Species: S. oolentangiense
General Characteristics: The plant is an erect, perennial, 2'-3' tall forb
The flower head is 3/4"-1 1/3" wide with 10-25 blue to pink rays; bracts (phyllaries) with short, dark, diamond-shaped tip; inflorescence loose, branched cluster. It blooms Aug.-Oct. The leaf is mostly toward the bottom of the stem, thick, stiff, usually entire, lower leaves on long, often winged stalked, base usually heart-shaped, upper surface rough; upper leaves lance-like, stalkless but not clasping.
Special Characteristics: The flowers attract various insects, including small bees, flies, small to medium-sized butterflies, skippers, and wasps. Among these, Green Metallic bees and other Halictid bees are especially common visitors of the flowers, where they seek nectar or pollen. The caterpillars of the butterfly Chlosyne nycteis (Silvery Checkerspot) and several species of moth feed on this and other asters. The Wild Turkey and been observed feeding on the foliage and seeds of asters to a limited extent. Many mammalian herbivores occasionally eat this plant, even though it has low food value, including rabbits, deer, groundhogs, and livestock.
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