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Symphyotrichum phlogifolium

(Muhl. ex Willd.) Nesom

Late Purple Aster

G4Apparently Secure Found in 2 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.156308
Element CodePDASTE8120
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderAsterales
FamilyAsteraceae
GenusSymphyotrichum
Synonyms
Aster patens var. phlogifolius(Muhl. ex Willd.) NeesAster phlogifoliusMuhl. ex Willd.
Other Common Names
thinleaf late purple aster (EN) Thinleaf Late Purple 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 Occurrences21 - 80
Rank Reasons
Symphyotrichum phlogifolium is a perennial forb occurring in rich mesic mixed-hardwood forests and roadsides in loamy, sandy, or gravelly soils of eastern North America from Massachusetts and New York south to Georgia, west to Alabama, and north to Illinois in the United States. There are an estimated 48 occurrences of this species, which are potentially threatened by development, logging, rights-of-way maintenance, invasive species, and succession. Little is known about threats and trends, and monitoring existing populations is important to improving our understanding of the status of Symphyotrichum phlogifolium.
Range Extent Comments
Symphyotrichum phlogifolium occurs in eastern North America from Massachusetts and New York south to Georgia, west to Alabama, and north to Illinois in the United States (FNA 2006, Weakley and the Southeastern Flora Team 2024). Range extent was estimated to be 415,019 square kilometers using herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data collected between 1983 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 1983 and 2024, it is estimated that there are 48 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, NatureServe 2024, SEINet 2024).
Threat Impact Comments
Although threats are not widely documented, Symphyotrichum phlogifolium is potentially threatened by development, logging, rights-of-way maintenance, invasive species, succession, and other threats in some places. There is insufficient data, including anecdotal accounts, to understand the scope and severity of threats for this taxon.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Symphyotrichum phlogifolium occurs in rich mesic mixed-hardwood forests primarily found in the Appalachians and adjacent provinces, and roadsides in loamy, sandy, or gravelly soils (FNA 2006, Weakley and the Southeastern Flora Team 2024).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest - HardwoodForest Edge
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN4
ProvinceRankNative
AlabamaSNRYes
DelawareSNRYes
IllinoisSNRYes
New YorkS4Yes
West VirginiaS5Yes
OhioSNRYes
GeorgiaS1Yes
PennsylvaniaSNRYes
South CarolinaS1Yes
TennesseeSNRYes
New JerseyS3Yes
VirginiaS4Yes
KentuckyS4Yes
District of ColumbiaSNRYes
North CarolinaS3Yes
IndianaSXYes
MarylandSNRYes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
Unknown/undetermined———

—

Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (2)
Virginia (2)
AreaForestAcres
Mt. PleasantGeorge Washington National Forest8,933
Oliver MountainGeorge Washington National Forest13,090
References (7)
  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. NatureServe. 2024. NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia.
  6. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2024. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2024).
  7. Weakley, A.S., and Southeastern Flora Team. 2023. Flora of the southeastern United States. Edition of April 14, 2023. University of North Carolina Herbarium (NCU), North Carolina Botanical Garden, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. 2105 pp.