Online Virtual Flora of Wisconsin

Symphyotrichum

Family: Asteraceae

Merel R. Black

Simple Key to Common

Leaves petiolate, leaf bases cordate
    Leaf margins entire
        All leaves w/ petioles                                S. shortii
        Only lower leaves w/ petioles, becoming clasping above                S. oolentangiense
    Leaf margins toothed
        Petioles of mid stem leaves unwinged or with narrow wings            S. cordifolium
        Petioles of mid stem leaves prominently winged
            Upper stems and leaves evenly & densely hairy, leaves sand papery    S. drummondii
            Upper stems and leaves glabrous or hairs in lines only
                Inflorescence white                        S. urophyllum
                Inflorescence blue                        S. ciliolatum

Leaves sessile, leaf bases clasping/auriculate
    Leaf margins toothed                                    S. prenanthoides
    Leaf margins entire
        Stems and leaves glabrous                            S. laeve
        Stems and leaves at least sparsely hairy
            Glandular hairs mixed with non glandular hairs toward inflorescence    S. novae-angliae
            No glandular hairs
                Stems evenly hairy                        S. puniceum
                Stems with hairs in lines                    S. firmum

Leaves sessile, leaf bases not clasping/auriculate
    Inflorescence blue
        Leaves silvery w/ silky hairs                            S. sericeum
        Leaves not silvery
            Upper stem glandular                            S. oblongifolium
            Upper stem not glandular                        S. praealtum
    Inflorescence white
        Phyllaries with spiny tip
            Phyllaries hairy                            S. ericoides
            Phyllaries glabrous                            S. pilosum
        Phyllaries without spiny tip
            Slender stem, leaves linear-lanceolate and with inrolled margins,
            limited to high quality wetlands                    S. boreale
            Stout stems, lanceolate or oblanceolate leaves w/out inrolled margins,
            common across state
                Underside of leaf glabrous                    S. lanceolatum
                Underside of leaf hairy at least on midrib
                    Underside of leaf hairy on midrib            S. lateriflorum
                    Underside of leaf evenly hairy                S. ontarionis