SWAMP ASTER
Boltonia asteroides
SUNFLOWER FAMILY (Asteraceae)
Identification
- Flowering time - August, September, October
- Rare in wet places at FF and NW
- Aster-like flower, with sharply-defined central disk
- Smooth, hairless leaves
- Wiry, extensively branched hairless stems
This native perennial grows from 1 to 6 feet tall. The many-branched, hairless stems support alternate, smooth, narrow leaves from 2-6 inches long (C). Before the onset of full flowering only open, leafy, branched clusters of rounded, pale green to yellow 1/4 inch disks may be evident (D). Later, from 20-60 petal-like ray florets appear. They are initially curled but eventually spread to produce 1-1 1/2 inch flower heads with well defined, yellow convex central disks (B,E). Our ray florets are white, but pink or blue varieties do occur.
Found in moist areas and on stream banks, flowering from August through October. It was once common at Neale Woods in a local area next to a pond at the lower end of Jonas Prairie. The pond has since dried up and this plant is no longer present. There is an old report from Fontenelle Forest, but no recent ones.
This plant is easily confused with Asters flowering at the same time. Boltonia has a more compact, well-defined convex central disk, smooth leaves and wiry, extensively branched stems. The rounded disks are obvious both before the ray florets appear and after they drop.
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