White prairie aster (Plants of the Middle Rio Grande Bosque)

White prairie aster

Symphyotrichum falcatum

Summary ⁷

Symphyotrichum falcatum, also known as white prairie aster, is a flowering plant that has a small yellow center surrounded by small white petals. It is native and widespread throughout western North America. They bloom from July through November depending on the local climate.

Botanical Information ⁸

Symphyotrichum falcatum commutatum or commonly known as white prairie aster, is a star shaped flower that’s height can reach thirty inches. Its flowers are white with a yellow center. The leaves on a white prairie aster can grow up to two inches long and a quarter of an inch in width. The leaves grow thin fiber-like hairs along the leaflets. A single flowerhead can hold up to fifteen to thirty-five florets. A single flower will have similar shape and look of a Gerbera jamesonii or commonly known as a daisy. White prairie aster has small white petals that surround a yellowish center. (3)

Symphyotrichum falcatum (2) comes from the kingdom plantae. Its classes are angiosperms, eudicots, and asterids. The order is asterales and the family is asteraceae. The genus for Symphyotrichum falcatum is symphyotrichum. (4)

Ecological Information ⁸

White Prairie Aster is a common flower found in the Rocky Mountain states and the Great Plains. It grows around streambanks, plains, lakes, and hillsides. White prairie aster is native to the western region of the United States. (1)

Ethnobotanical Information ⁸

White prairie aster is believed to have been used to strengthen hair and nails. The Zuni people use the white prairie aster and mix it with other herbs to wash their infants. It was believed that by washing their children with the herbs they are strengthening the children and promoting hair growth. (4)

References ⁹

Everwilde Farm Inc. (n.d.). Prairie Aster Wildflower Seeds, Aster Tanacetifolia. Retrieved April 1, 2019, from https://www.everwilde.com/store/Aster-tanacetifolia-WildFlower-Seed.html

The American Southwest. (n.d.). White Prairie Aster, Symphyotrichum Falcatum. Retrieved March 27, 2019, from https://www.americansouthwest.net/plants/wildflowers/symphyotrichum-falcatum.html

United States Department of Agriculture. (2014). Symphyotrichum falcatum (Lindl.) G.L. Nesom var. commutatum (Torr. & A. Gray) G.L. Nesom. In
PLANTS Database. Retrieved March 26, 2019, https://plants.usda.gov/home/plantProfile?symbol=SYFAC

Wikipedia contributors. (2021, December 21). Symphyotrichum falcatum. Wikipedia. Retrieved April 1, 2019, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphyotrichum_falcatum

About the Author ⁸

Student author*: Elena (age 16) from The International School at Mesa Del Sol

*The entries in this field guide have been edited by Yerba Mansa Project staff to ensure that they contain quality, fact-checked content and standardized formatting.

Sources and Credits

(c) Jerry Oldenettel, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/jroldenettel/16457049138/
(c) Jerry Oldenettel, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/jroldenettel/16457220170/
(c) Jerry Oldenettel, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/jroldenettel/16643612202/
(c) Jerry Oldenettel, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/jroldenettel/16024721563/
(c) Jerry Oldenettel, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/jroldenettel/32307205236/
(c) Jerry Oldenettel, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/jroldenettel/16618691336/
Adapted by caseynm from a work by (c) tisdrn, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
(c) smiller33, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
Adapted by Kiley Spurlock from a work by (c) smiller33, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

More Info

iNat Map

Type	herb
Uses	medicinal
Flower	white
Native	yes
Life cycle	perennial
Habitat	rocky

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