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Symphyotrichum patens
	In Polkton, North Carolina
Conservation status
	; Secure (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Tribe:	Astereae
Subtribe:	Symphyotrichinae
Genus:	Symphyotrichum
Subgenus:	Symphyotrichum subg. Virgulus
Section:	Symphyotrichum sect. Patentes
Species:	S. patens
Binomial name
	Symphyotrichum patens; (Aiton) G.L.Nesom
Varieties
	List S. patens var. patens ; S. patens var. gracile (Hook.) G.L.Nesom ; S. patens var. patentissimum (Lindl.) G.L.Nesom ; S. patens var. terranigrum J.J.N.Campb. & W.R.Seymour ;
	County-level distribution map of Symphyotrichum patens
Synonyms
	Basionym; Aster patens Aiton; Alphabetical list Aster alatus Aikin ; Aster amplexicaulis Michx. ; Aster auritus Lindl. ; Aster phlogifolius var. patens (Aiton) Alph.Wood ; Aster undulatus Elliott ; Aster undulatus var. amplexicaulis (Michx.) W.P.C.Barton ; Aster virgatus Elliott ; Lasallea patens (Aiton) Semple & Brouillet ; Virgulus patens (Aiton) Reveal & Keener ; ;

Symphyotrichum patens, commonly known as late purple aster or spreading aster, is a perennial, herbaceous plant found in the eastern United States.^[4]^[5]

Description

Sympyotrichum patens is a perennial and herbaceous flowering plant usually between 10 and 100 centimeters (1⁄4 and 3+1⁄4 feet) tall.^[5] It has a spreading growth form, and the leaves are ovate to oblong and clasp the pubescent stem.^[5]^[6] The flowers are relatively small, less than 3 centimeters (1+1⁄4 inches) in diameter, with light blue to violet ray florets and yellow disk florets. It flowers between August and October.^[6]

Leaf front
Leaf back
Inflorescence
Involucre
Flower heads

Taxonomy

The title of a review of the Symphyotrichum patens complex begins with "Another review..." as a nod to the complexity of the topic.^[3] The species was first formally described and named Aster patens by Swedish botanist Jonas Carlsson Dryander and published by Scottish botanist William Aiton in 1789.^[7] It was transferred to the genus Symphyotrichum in 1995 by American botanist Guy L. Nesom.^[8] It is closely related to Symphyotrichum georgianum and Symphyotrichum phlogifolium.^[3]

Several varieties have been named, with the basionym as Symphyotrichum patens var. patens:

Symphyotrichum patens var. gracile (Hook.) G.L.Nesom^[2]
Symphyotrichum patens var. patentissimum (Lindl.) G.L.Nesom^[2]
Symphyotrichum patens var. terranigrum J.J.N.Campb. & W.R.Seymour^[3]

Distribution and habitat

A widely distributed species, S. patens ranges from southern Maine, south and west to eastern Texas.^[4] Plants are typically found in sunny to mostly sunny sites, including open woodlands.^[9]