American botanist John Leonard Riddell originally described this species in a publication dated to April 1835 as Aster oolentangiensis[5] after finding it in forests on the Olentangy River near Worthington, Ohio. Riddell originally misspelled the name of the river with two Os.[6] The synonym Aster azureus has also been used, but this was not published until November 1835,[note 1] so Riddell's epithet has priority.
Along with many other species, Symphyotrichum oolentangiense was formerly included in the genus Aster. However, this broad circumscription of Aster is polyphyletic, and the North American asters are now classified in Symphyotrichum and several other genera.[7]
The flowers attract a wide variety of insect species, including bees, bee flies, butterflies, beetles, and others. A wide variety of herbivorous insects also consume the vegetation. The seeds are dispersed by wind. The species is typical of higher quality natural areas, especially those with disturbances such as wildfire.[9]
Notes
^The name Aster azureus was published in the Companion to the Botanical Magazine1: 98.[10] The cover page only dates this to 1835; this part was published in November.[11]
Stafleu, F.A.; Cowan, R.S. (1979). "3005. Companion to the Botanical Magazine". Taxonomic Literature: A selective guide to botanical publications and collections with dates, commentaries and types (H–Le). Vol. II. Utrecht: Bohn, Scheltema & Holkema. pp. 293–294. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
