Symphyotrichum yukonense

Symphyotrichum yukonense
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (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. Grandiflori
Species:	S. yukonense
Binomial name
Symphyotrichum yukonense (Cronquist) G.L.Nesom
Native distribution
Synonyms
Aster yukonensis Cronquist Virgulus yukonensis (Cronquist) Reveal & Keener

Symphyotrichum yukonense (formerly Aster yukonensis) is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae endemic to disjunct areas in Alaska and the Canadian territories of Yukon and Northwest Territories. Commonly known as Yukon aster, it is a perennial, herbaceous plant 5 to 30 centimeters (2 to 12 inches) in height. Its flowers have purple to blue ray florets and yellow to brown disk florets. S. yukonense grows at elevations of 300–1,500 meters (1,000–4,900 feet) in mud flats and on sandy or silty lake shores. It is a NatureServe Vulnerable (G3) species and is classified Imperiled (S2) in its Canadian range.

S. yukonense herbarium specimen

S. yukonense specimen close-up

References

• Brouillet, L.; Semple, J.C.; Allen, G.A.; Chambers, K.L.; Sundberg, S.D. (2006). "Symphyotrichum yukonense". In Flora of North America Editorial Committee (ed.). Flora of North America North of Mexico (FNA). Vol. 20. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press. Retrieved 8 July 2021 – via eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
• NatureServe (2 July 2021). "Symphyotrichum yukonense Yukon Aster". explorer.natureserve.org. Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
• POWO (2019). "Symphyotrichum yukonense (Cronquist) G.L.Nesom". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
• Semple, J.C. (21 February 2014). "Symphyotrichum yukonense Yukon Aster". www.uwaterloo.ca. Ontario: University of Waterloo. Archived from the original on 23 July 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.