Symphyotrichum falcatum (Lindl.) G.L. Nesom

by Pilar Wolters, Native Plants of Arizona 2009
Common names: White Prairie Aster
Family: Asteraceae.
Synonymy: Aster commutatus, Aster falcatus, Aster ericoides, Aster crassulus (1).
Etymology: from the Greek symphyos , (growing together) and thrix (hair), referring to the hair-like flowers. falcatum : sickle-shaped (2).

Identification
Growth form: Subshrub to 60 cm, sometimes rhizomatous (3).
Stem: 1–5+, ascending to erect (grayish brown to brown), moderately to densely hairy (4).
Leaves: Light, grayish green firm, margins entire, sessile, blades broadest above middle, 10–40 × 3–10 mm, bases taper toward end, margins entire, scabrous (4).
Inflorescence/flowers: 1-10+ heads per branch, usually not crowded. 15-35 ray corollas usually white. 8-30 disk corollas yellow becoming brown, 2–2.5 mm, lobes triangular, 0.7–1.2 mm, glabrous. (4)
Fruit: Pappi whitish, 4.5–6 mm, cypselae dark brown, obovoid, not compressed, 2–2.5 mm, faint-nerved, faces densely covered with stiff bristles (4) .
Similar species: S. ericoides , has smaller heads with fewer florets in denser arrays and has spine tipped phyllaries. (4).

Ecology
Life history: Perennial forb/herb (1). Dicot (5)
Native/introduced: Native (1).
Phenology: Flowers May through July.
Distribution: Habitat including elevation; counties in AZ; then world-wide distribution such as: From AZ and NM north to Alaska and Canada (1).

Uses: This species has been used medicinally as a dermatological aid, pediatric aid, strengthener, and snake bite remedy (6).

References
1. USDA, NRCS. (2007). The PLANTS Database . Retrieved Sept. 17, 2009 , from http://plants.usda.gov .
2. Metronet Governing Board, and Tom Chester. White Prairie Daisy, Symphyotrichum falcatum, on the Bright Angel Trail, Grand Canyon, Arizona . 22 Sept. 2006 . Web. 17 Sept. 2009 . <http://tchester.org/gc/plants/species/symphyotrichum_falcatum.html>.
3. "SEINet - Symphyotrichum falcatum." Consortium of Southwest Herbaria : HomePage . Web. 17 Sept. 2009 . <http://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/taxa/index.php?taxon=Symphyotrichum%20falcatum>.
4. "Symphyotrichum falcatum in Flora of North America @ efloras.org." EFloras.org Home . Web. 17 Sept. 2009 . <http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=250067644>.
5. "Tropicos | Name - Symphyotrichum falcatum subsp. commutatum (Torr. & A. Gray) Semple." Tropicos - Home . Web. 17 Sept. 2009 . <http://www.tropicos.org/NameDetails.aspx?nameid=50283647>.
6. Arnold, L., K. Drenkard, S. Ela, J. Goedken, C. Hamilton, C. Harris, N. Holecek, and M. White. "Ethnobotanical uses of Symphyotrichum falcatum." UM-Dearborn College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters . Web. 17 Sept. 2009 . <http://herb.umd.umich.edu/herb/search.pl?searchstring=Symphyotrichum%20falcatum&searchlimit=100>.