About Oclemena acuminata (Michx.) Greene
Oclemena acuminata (Michx.) Greene is a perennial herbaceous plant. It propagates through a swollen tuber located at the tip of a slender, elongated rhizome. The plant grows between 10 and 80 cm (4 to 31 inches) tall, and bears 11 to 18 leaves clustered at the top of its stem. Each individual leaf measures 10 to 45 mm (0.4 to 1.8 inches) wide, has prominent teeth, and features flat margins. The plant produces 5 to 46 flower heads, which nod while in bud. Each flower head grows on a thin stalk called a peduncle that is 0.9 to 4.5 cm (0.4 to 1.8 inches) long. Every flower head contains 15 white ray flowers, which may also be tinged with pink, and 14 to 30 disc flowers. Oclemena acuminata is closely related to Oclemena nemoralis. When these two parent species grow in contact with one another, hybrid populations can form. This contact occurs at the forest-bog ecotone, and the resulting hybrid is known as Blake's aster. Oclemena acuminata is native to eastern North America. Its natural range stretches from Newfoundland, Canada, south to the U.S. state of Georgia.
