ILLINOIS PLANT INFORMATION NETWORK
 
 ILPIN INFORMATION ON    Aster anomalus
 
 
 CLASS:    DICOTYLEDENAE
 ORDER:    ASTERALES
 FAMILY:   ASTERACEAE
 SCIENTIFIC NAME:  Aster anomalus
 AUTHORITY:  Engelm.
 
 COMMON NAMES:
    BLUE ASTER
 
 SYNONOMY:   None
 
 PLANTS CODE: ASAN
 
 NATURAL COMMUNITIES:
     FOREST
       UPLAND FOREST
         DRY
         DRY-MESIC
       THICKETS
     PRIMARY
       GLADE
         SANDSTONE
         LIMESTONE
 
 
 SAF FOREST COVER TYPE:
     CENTRAL
        Upland oak
           White/Black/Northern Red-  Oak
 
 NATURAL DIVISION:  UNAVAILABLE
 
 COUNTIES:
   ADAMS           ALEXANDER       BOND            BROWN           CALHOUN
   FAYETTE         FRANKLIN        FULTON          HANCOCK         JACKSON
   JEFFERSON       JERSEY          JOHNSON         MCDONOUGH       MACOUPIN
   MADISON         MARION          MENARD          MONROE          PEORIA
   PIKE            POPE            RANDOLPH        ST. CLAIR       SCHUYLER
   UNION           WILLIAMSON      WOODFORD
 
 GROWTH FORM:  Dicot-herb
 
 TAXONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS:
    ROOTS:  Adventitious   (fibrous)   (rhizomes)
    LEAF ARRANGEMENT:   Alternate
    LEAF TYPE:   Simple
    LEAF MARGIN:   Entire
    LEAF VENATION:  Pinnate
    LEAF SHAPE:     Lanceolate   Ovate     Cordate
    INFLORESCENCE:   Panicle  Head
    FLOWER STRUCTURE:   Complete   Incomplete   Regular   Irregular
    FLOWER COLOR:   Blue   Violet   White
    FLOWER PLACEMENT:  Epigynous
    FRUIT:   Achene
 
 GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION:
     ORIGIN:   Native
 
 POPULATION DYNAMICS:
     STATE STATUS: Not listed
     FEDERAL STATUS: Not listed
     COMMONNESS:  Occasional
     ENDEMIC:   NOT-ENDEMIC
 
 BIOLOGIC:
     HABIT:   Forb
     LIFE CYCLE:   Perennial
     REPRODUCTION:   Sexual   Vegetative
     FLOWERING PERIOD:
         MONTH BEGINNING-      9         MONTH END-     10
     TROPHIC STATUS:  Autotrophic
     SEX:      Perfect     Unisexual   -monoecious
 
 BIOLOGIC COMMENTS:
     Species has short stout rhizome or branched caudex. Disk
     florets are perfect and fertile; ray florets are pistillate and
     fertile.
 
 ECODISTRIBUTION COMMENTS:
     Species is distributed in rocky open woods, chert, sandstone,
     or granite substrata.
 
 ENVIRONMENTAL RELATIONSHIPS:   No data entered
 
 FUNCTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS:
     MAJOR POLLINATION AGENT:   INSECT
 
 HUMAN RELATIONSHIP DATA:    No data entered
 
 WILDLIFE AND LIVESTOCK INFORMATION:
     FOOD VALUE:
         DEER VALUE:   -   Leaves
         UPLAND GAME VALUE:   -   Fruit   Flowers
         WATERFOWL VALUE:  Unknown
         SMALL NON-GAME BIRD VALUE:  Unknown
         SMALL MAMMAL VALUE:  Unknown
         AQUATIC MAMMAL VALUE:  Unknown
         FISH VALUE:  Unknown
     COVER VALUE:  No data entered
 
     WILDLIFE COMMENTS:
         Basal leaves provide winter food source for white-tailed deer.
 
 
 LIVESTOCK PALATABILITY DATA:
     CATTLE FORAGE: No data    SHEEP FORAGE:  No data    HORSE FORAGE:  No data
     GOAT FORAGE:   No data    ENERGY VALUE:  No data    PROTEIN VALUE: No data
     POISONOUS (LIVESTOCK):   Suspect
 
 LIVESTOCK COMMENTS:
     Species is possible selenium accumulator.
 
 REVEGETATION PLANTINGS:    No data entered
 
 
 REFERENCES:
Mohlenbrock, R. H., ed.  1975.  Guide to the vascular flora of Illinois.
     Southern Illinois University Press, Carbondale.  494 pp.
Steyermark, J. A.  1963.  Flora of Missouri.  Iowa State University Press, Ames.
     1725 pp.
Gleason, H. A.  1952.  The new Britton and Brown illustrated flora of the
     northeastern United States and adjacent Canada.  3 vols.  The New York
     Botanical Garden, New York.
 
 OTHER REFERENCES:
     Stephens, H.A. 1980. Poisonous Plants of the Central United States. Regent
     Press of Kansas. Lawrence, KA. 165. pp.
 
 END OF DATA FOR SPECIES  Aster anomalus
 
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ILPIN was developed by Louis Iverson*, with data compiled by David Ketzner and Jeanne Karnes
 Illinois Natural History Survey, 607 E. Peabody Dr., Champaign, IL 61820
     *currently employed by USDA Forest Service, 359 Main Rd., Delaware, OH 43015