Symphyotrichum subulatum

Wild Aster, Bushy Starwort at Jerrabomberra, ACT

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Identification history

	Symphyotrichum subulatum	21 Aug 2015	MichaelMulvaney
	Unidentified	7 Apr 2015	Mike

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5 comments

KenT wrote:

6 Aug 2015

Hello Mike, I was wondering if you had considered Aster subulatus, other images on the net for this can be found under the name Symphyotrichum subulatum. Bit of a guess really as the images I see don't have the resolution necessary for my old eyes.

Mike wrote:

7 Aug 2015

I have cropped and added some other photos. Is the current name Symphotrichum undulatum or Aster subulatus?

KenT wrote:

8 Aug 2015

For figuring out the current name for exotic plants I tend to use the US Dept. of Agriculture germplasm resources information network website http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/queries.pl?language=en if I then select ‘Simple queries - species data, single criterion’ and then enter Symphyotrichum undulatum and follow the various links it gives this as the current name with the following synonyms: Aster baldwinii, Aster mohrii & Aster undulatus. It tells me there are 140 taxa in this genus (including varieties and hybrids) and lists important references eg Nesom G. L. 1994. Review of the taxonomy of Aster sensu lato (Asteraceae: Astereae), emphasizing the New World species. Phytologia 77:141–297. [Nesom, G. L. 1995. Key to the American genera of the Asterinae (Asteraceae). Phytologia 79:281–285. Both available on line at the biodiversity heritage library site. If you enter Aster undulatus into the search it will take you straight to Symphyotrichum undulatum. The current name for Aster subulatus is Symphyotrichum subulatum. However, if your plant is in this genus I don’t think it is this species as the bracts and leaves do not look right cf. the web images for this species. It is a frustrating exercise trying to key out Asteraceae from photos with the limited character set usually present in the images (a problem I often have) usually one needs details of the basal and lower leaves, the achene and pappus and it is hard to judge the size of things such as leaf widths, floret lengths etc. My initial guess as to possible species was based on a small image and text in the book “Weeds of the South East an Identification Guide for Australia” 2nd edn by Richardson et al. 2011. I also rely much less on native habitat information for considering the identity of exotics then I do for Australian natives as exotics usually land here without their usual range of pathogens and insects placing constraints on their distribution.

KenT wrote:

8 Aug 2015

I intended to say I didn't think your plant was Symphyotrichum undulatum

MichaelMulvaney wrote:

22 Aug 2015

Thanks Ken for your information and advice and Mike for the extra photo's. This one had me stumped but Aster subulatus is a good match

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