Rank Species | Subfamily Asteroideae | |
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Similar Symphyotrichum puniceum, Symphyotrichum sericeum, Symphyotrichum oolentangiense, Symphyotrichum falcatum, Symphyotrichum eatonii | ||
Symphyotrichum prenanthoides is a species of flowering plant in the aster family known by the common name crookedstem aster. It is native to eastern North America, where it occurs in eastern Canada and the eastern United States.
This rhizomatous perennial herb produces colonies of plants with stems that may exceed one meter in length. They grow upright to erect and may be crooked or nearly straight. They are often thick and purple in color with age. The leaves vary in size and shape. The flower heads are borne in branching arrays on purplish stems. The ray florets are lavender or blue in color, or sometimes white. There are up to 30 ray florets measuring up to 1.5 centimeters in length. At the center are disc florets in shades of cream and yellow to purple or brown.
This plant grows in many types of habitat including woody and marshy areas, as well as roadsides.
The Iroquois used this plant medicinally to treat fevers in babies and other ailments.
