Flower ID: IMG_3380.JPG-09-22-2019 Flower name (scientific): Symphyotrichum cordifolium (Linnaeus) G. L. Nesom PY: 1995. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) sim-fy-oh-TRY-kum (or sim-fy-oh-TREE-kum or sim-fe-o-TRIK-um) kor-dih-FOH-lee-um Flower name (common): Blue Wood Aster Family name (common): Aster Family name (scientific): Asteraceae Scientific name origin: Genus: From the Greek symphysis for junction or growing together, and trichos for hair. The structural reference is uncertain, possibly alluding to a perceived basal connation of bristles in the type specimen. Specific epithet: Having heart-shaped leaves. Common name origin: From the color and common habitat. Aster from the Greek for star, for the showy radiated flowers. Flower description: Size: 0.5 to 0.8 inches (1.3 to 2.0 cm) Petal count: 8, ray florets 8 to 20, disc florets 8 to 20. Color: blue or purple, sometimes white. Other: flower arrangement, Panicle Plant description: Size: 6 to 48 inches (15 to 122 cm) Stem hairy: Other: Leaf description: attachment is alternate, type is simple Size: Basal leaves up to 15 cm long and 7.5 cm wide. Proximal cauline leaves up to 10 cm long and 4 to 7 cm wide. Color: Hairy: Other: Shape: leaf, (basal) ovate to elliptic or suborbiculate, (proximal cauline) widely to narrowly ovate, (distal) ovate to lanceolate (FNA) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Uncommon Bloom time (typical): August to October Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial Habitat: Woods, thickets, forests, bluffs, streambanks, shade or semi-shade, moist. Fruit: Seed: Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): The Symphyotrichum species are probably one of the most difficult group to ID. Part of the difficulty is associated with variability within a species. Many of the species are usually heterophyllous (having more than one type of leaf on the same plant). There is also the added complication of hybridization between various Symphyotrichum species. There are over 50 hybrid species listed for Symphyotrichum in the Flora of Wisconsin database. In addition there are around 25 varitities and subspecies listed in the same resource. S. boreale (Northern Bog Aster), S. drummondii (Drummond's Aster), S. dumosum (Bushy Aster), S. firmum (Smooth Swamp Aster), S. novae-angliae (New England Aster), S. oolentangiense (Sky-blue Aster), S. praealtum (Willow Aster), S. prenanthoides (Crooked Aster), S. puniceum (Purple-stemmed Aster), S. shortii (Short's Aster), and S. urophyllum (Arrowleaf Aster) can resemble Symphyotrichum cordifolium. For a guide to sorting out the Symphyotrichum species click here. For some further tabulated data that may aid in sorting out the Symphyotrichum species click here. Ethnobotany: The Ojibwe use the smoke from this plant when hunting as an attractant for deer (Smith, pp. 428-429, 1932). Smith uses the old name Aster cordifolius in this reference. Latitude: 44.797158 Longitude: -91.512843 Altitude: 299.60 Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Calumet, Chippewa, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Dunn, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, VA, VT, WI, WV) In Canada: (BC, MB, NB, NS, ON, PE, QC) References: Synonym(s): Basionym: Aster cordifolius Linnaeus Sp. Pl. 2: 875 (1753). Homotypic Synonym(s): Heterotypic Synonym(s): Autonym: na