Symphyotrichum texanum (E.S. Burgess) Semple. Texas Aster. Phen: Aug-Oct. Hab: Limestone cliffs, sandstone cliffs, bluffs. Dist: MO and KS south to LA and TX; disjunct east of the Mississippi River in e. LA, e. MS, and w. and c. KY; Mexico (COA).

ID notes:The distinctive cordate (heart-shaped) basal and cauline leaves bearing serrate-crenate margins combined with the relatively short ray florets surrounding disc florets that tinge an almost watermelon-pink at anthesis make this one of the easiest Symphyotrichum to identify in eastern TX (Aidan Campos, pers.comm. 2021).

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Taxonomy Comments: Sometimes treated as a variety or lumped under S. drummondii; characters used to separate the two are variable and further taxonomic work is needed to clarify distributions.

Synonymy: = Il; = Aster drummondii Lindl. var. texanus (E.S.Burgess) A.G.Jones – NcTx; = Aster texanus E.S.Burgess – C, G, SE1; = n/a – F; = Symphyotrichum drummondii (Lindl.) G.L.Nesom var. texanum (E.S.Burgess) G.L.Nesom – Ar, FNA20, K1, K3, K4; > Aster texanus E.S.Burgess var. parviceps Shinners – Tx; > Aster texanus E.S.Burgess var. texanus E.S.Burgess – Tx

Show in key(s)

Show parent genus

Heliophily: 9