Species: Symphyotrichum jessicae

Jessica's Aster

Species

Encyclopedia of Puget Sound

Aster jessicae is a robust, extensively rooting perennial that tends to grow in large clumps. Plants attain a height of 1.5 meters tall, but average about 1 meter. The herbage, particularly the upper portion, is covered with a dense, uniform, soft pubescence. Leaves are abundant and broadly lance- shaped. Middle stem leaves generally partially clasping the stem, and the lower leaves tend to dry and wither as the season progresses. Flower heads are usually numerous, with lavender- colored rays, 1-1.5 inches in diameter, and forming a broad cluster at the top of the plant. Plants flower from late July through September (Lorain 1991).

Source: Encyclopedia of Life

Classification

Kingdom

Plantae

Phylum

Anthophyta

Class

Dicotyledoneae

Order

Asterales

Family

Asteraceae

Genus

Symphyotrichum

NatureServe

Source:
ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.137134

Classification

Informal Taxonomy

Plants, Vascular - Flowering Plants - Aster Family

Formal Taxonomy

Plantae - Anthophyta - Dicotyledoneae - Asterales - Asteraceae - Symphyotrichum

Ecology and Life History

Source: Encyclopedia of Life

Short General Description

A robust, extensively rooting perennial herb, averaging about 1 m tall. The herbage is covered with dense, soft hairs, and the mid-stem leaves generally clasp the stem. Flower heads contain numerous lavender rays surrounding yellow disk flowers. Blooms July-September.

Reproduction Comments

Aster jessicae reproduces by seed and vegetatively by rhizomes. Asexual reproduction from extensive rhizomes has produced numerous large clumps in many populations. Most plants observed during field surveys contain many flowers. The flower heads of A. jessicae are not specialized for a particular pollinator. A variety of long-tongued insects, especially Lepidopterans and Hymenopterans have been observed visiting flowers and are the main suspected pollinators. Observed visitors include several lepidopterans (ocher ringlet, orange skipper, and sulphurs), as well as wasps, bees, and rove beetles. Specific details regarding seed dispersal are unknown. However, the achenes of A. jessicae have a well developed pappus adapted for wind dispersal.

Ecology Comments

No Aster jessicae populations are known to occur on cultivated or heavily grazed land. However, plants often are found along the edges of fields and pastures. Most sites are disturbed to some degree. It is also known from old, overgrown cemeteries and selectively logged woodland communities. Most forested communities that support A. jessicae are mid-seral. It does not appear A. jessicae requires disturbance. It does not seem to benefit from disturbance either, except perhaps if the disturbance is episodic rather than chronic. Nonetheless, it does seem tolerant to some level of habitat alteration or disturbance. Fire formerly was an integral component of the ecology of the Palouse grasslands and adjacent ponderosa pine communities. Fire suppression over the past century has altered plant community structure and composition. How, or if, this has affected A. jessicae is unknown.

Conservation Status

NatureServe Global Status Rank

Global Status Last Reviewed

2009-05-09

Global Status Last Changed

1990-04-02

Distribution

Conservation Status Map

Global Range

Endemic to the Palouse region of southeastern Washington and adjacent Idaho. Most known extant populations are in Idaho, where it occurs in Clearwater, Latah, Lewis, and Nez Perce counties. In Washington, confirmed locations are known only from an area approximately 15 miles by 12 miles in Whitman County.

ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.137134