Symphyotrichum sericeum
# Symphyotrichum sericeum

Symphyotrichum sericeum (formerly Aster sericeus) is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae native to central North America. Commonly known as western silver aster, western silvery aster, and silky aster, it is a perennial, herbaceous plant that may reach 70 centimeters (2+1⁄4 feet) tall. Its flowers have purple ray florets and pink then purple disk florets, and its leaves are firm and silvery-green.

## Description

Symphyotrichum sericeum is a perennial herb growing from rhizomes. Leaf texture is sericeous, giving the leaves a silvery-green appearance. The inflorescences are erect and parallel, and the involucral bracts of the flower heads are ovate to lanceolate in shape and sericeous. The flowers have purple ray florets and pink then purple disk florets. The fruit is a cypsela.

* Symphyotrichum sericeum leaves close-up
* Symphyotrichum sericeum inflorescence

## Conservation

As of July 2021, NatureServe listed Symphyotrichum sericeum as Secure (G5) worldwide, last reviewed in 2002, with state and province statuses as follows: Critically Imperiled (S1) in Ontario and Oklahoma; and, Imperiled (S2) in Manitoba, North Dakota, Michigan, Indiana, and Arkansas.

## Citations

* 1 2 NatureServe 2021.
* 1 2 3 POWO 2019.
* ↑ USDA 2014.
* 1 2 3 Brouillet et al. 2006.
* ↑ Missouri Botanical Garden n.d.
