About Symphyotrichum boreale (Torr. & A.Gray) Á.Löve & D.Löve
Symphyotrichum boreale is a perennial herbaceous plant that grows 13 centimeters (5 inches) to 85 centimeters (2 feet 9 inches) tall. All parts of this plant—including its leaves, stem, and overall form—are slender, and it produces long rhizomes. Its inflorescence is made up of one to several composite flowers. The ray florets range in color from white to pale purple, while the disc florets are cream or pale yellow and turn purplish as they age. This plant has simple leaves that grow in an alternate arrangement, or are clustered at its base. Symphyotrichum boreale is native to northern North America, ranging from Alaska to Newfoundland, and extending south as far as Colorado and West Virginia. It grows in wet, calcareous habitats, such as fens, marshes, swamps, and wet meadows. Beyond spreading vegetatively through its rhizomes, the species disperses via wind-carried seeds. Symbiotic fungi, including arbuscular mycorrhiza and dark septate endophytes, colonize the roots of this plant. The sac fungus Erysiphe cichoracearum, which causes powdery mildew, is also known to infect this species.
