Symphyotrichum prenanthoides

(uhl. ex Willd.) Nesom

Crooked-stem Aster

G5Secure Found in 15 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.137173
Element CodePDASTE8170
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderAsterales
FamilyAsteraceae
GenusSymphyotrichum
Synonyms
Aster prenanthoidesMuhl. ex Willd.
Other Common Names
Aster fausse-prenanthe (FR) Crooked-stem American-aster (EN) crookedstem aster (EN)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1999. A synonymized checklist and atlas with biological attributes for the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. First edition. In: Kartesz, J.T., and C.A. Meacham. Synthesis of the North American Flora, Version 1.0. North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill, N.C.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2024-08-21
Change Date2024-08-21
Edition Date2024-08-21
Edition AuthorsN. Ventrella (2024)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank Reasons
Symphyotrichum prenanthoides is a perennial forb occurring in damp, marshy areas, wooded regions, grassy fields, and roadsides of eastern North America, from Ontario, Canada, and Massachusetts and New York south to Georgia, west to Iowa, and north to Minnesota in the United States. There are over 650 occurrences of this species, which are threatened by development, rights-of-way maintenance, invasive species, and succession. Although it is considered rare in portions of its range and little is known about trends, with a large range extent, a high number of occurrences, abundant habitat, broad habitat preferences, and no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities, Symphyotrichum prenanthoides is considered secure.
Range Extent Comments
Symphyotrichum prenanthoides occurs in eastern North America from Ontario, Canada, and Massachusetts and New York south to Georgia, west to Iowa, and north to Minnesota in the United States (FNA 2006, Weakley and the Southeastern Flora Team 2024). Range extent was estimated to be 1.4 million square kilometers using herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data collected between 1993 and 2024 (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, NatureServe 2024, SEINet 2024).
Occurrences Comments
By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1993 and 2024, it is estimated that there are over 650 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, NatureServe 2024, SEINet 2024).
Threat Impact Comments
Symphyotrichum prenanthoides is threatened by habitat loss due to conversion of land for agriculture, invasive species, recreational activities, succession, development, logging, rights-of-way maintenance, and other threats in some places (NatureServe 2024). However, their overall impact is likely negligible given the species' broad range, large number of occurrences, tolerance of light disturbance, and affinity for typically abundant habitats, as well as no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Symphyotrichum prenanthoides occurs in "moist or swampy grounds, woods, thickets, meadows, seeps, stream banks, [and] roadsides" (FNA 2006).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/WoodlandForest EdgeGrassland/herbaceous
Palustrine Habitats
FORESTED WETLANDRiparian
Other Nations (2)
CanadaN2
ProvinceRankNative
OntarioS2Yes
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
DelawareS1Yes
North CarolinaS3Yes
West VirginiaS4Yes
IndianaSNRYes
OhioSNRYes
ConnecticutSHYes
New JerseyS1Yes
MinnesotaSNRYes
MassachusettsS2Yes
WisconsinSNRYes
VirginiaS4Yes
GeorgiaS1Yes
VermontSUYes
IllinoisSUYes
TennesseeSNRYes
PennsylvaniaS5Yes
KentuckyS5Yes
MarylandSNRYes
MichiganSNRYes
New YorkS5Yes
IowaS3Yes
Threat Assessments

Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (15)
Kentucky (1)
AreaForestAcres
WolfpenDaniel Boone National Forest2,835
Pennsylvania (1)
AreaForestAcres
Minister ValleyAllegheny National Forest1,417
West Virginia (13)
AreaForestAcres
Canaan LoopMonongahela National Forest7,867
Cheat MountainMonongahela National Forest8,191
Cranberry AdditionMonongahela National Forest11,123
Cranberry Glades Botanical AreaMonongahela National Forest785
Dolly Sods Roaring PlainMonongahela National Forest13,392
Dry ForkMonongahela National Forest657
Dry River (WV)George Washington National Forest7,331
East Fork Of GreenbrierMonongahela National Forest7,167
Falls Of Hills CreekMonongahela National Forest6,925
Glady ForkMonongahela National Forest3,239
Little MountainMonongahela National Forest8,172
Mcgowan MountainMonongahela National Forest10,504
Middle MountainMonongahela National Forest19,020
References (8)
  1. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2006b. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 20. Magnoliophyta: Asteridae, part 7: Asteraceae, part 2. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxii + 666 pp.
  2. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2024. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2024).
  3. iNaturalist. 2024. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2024).
  4. Kartesz, J.T. 1999. A synonymized checklist and atlas with biological attributes for the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. First edition. In: Kartesz, J.T., and C.A. Meacham. Synthesis of the North American Flora, Version 1.0. North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill, N.C.
  5. Native Plant Trust. 2024. Go Botany website. Online. Available: https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org (accessed 2024).
  6. NatureServe. 2024. NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia.
  7. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2024. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2024).
  8. Weakley, A.S., and Southeastern Flora Team. 2024. Flora of the southeastern United States. Edition of March 4, 2024. University of North Carolina Herbarium (NCU), North Carolina Botanical Garden, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. 2203 pp.