Asters, Goldenrods and Fleabanes of Grey and Bruce Counties

This booklet has been produced to enable amateur botanists to distinguish between the great variety of Asters and Goldenrods found in Bruce and Grey Counties—a total of thirty one species. The three species of Daisy Fleabane were added at the suggestion of Dorothy Kings of the Saugeen Naturalists, because it was felt that they are often confused with Asters. These three groups are very closely related within the enormous Asteraceae family and have many features in common. Dr. John Semple's books on Asters and Goldenrods in Ontario are standard works, but they include twice the number of species. This booklet tries to simplify matters as far as possible for local use, but this is not a "simple" group.

Includes approximately 50% of Ontario species, with a glossary and identification key for each of asters, fleabanes and goldenrods.

Asters

Until recently, the Asters have had the same name in both botanical Latin and English. It is the Greek word for "star" and refers to the radial nature of the flower with, in most species, the petals of the ray florets surrounding the central disk. Recent research has confirmed something that earlier botanists believed, namely that Aster is composed of several distinct groups. Under this system Flat Topped White Aster (Doelleringia umbellata) has been placed in a separate genus which is named after the 19th century botanical explorer Doellinger. The pappus (parachute) on the fruit has several rings of hairs, with the outer one much shorter than the others. The remainder of our species have only one ring of hairs. With one exception, they are placed in Symphyotrichum, leaving Aster macrophyllus, Large Leaved Aster, the only one of our species remaining in the genus Aster. These synonyms will be found with the species descriptions. As these generic names are not yet in general use in most reference books, we have retained the use of Aster here. Asters are a very prolific group in North America. There are approximately 70 species listed for northeastern North America and there are many more in the west. By contrast, there are only four species for the whole of Europe. A number of North American species have been introduced there as garden plants, where they are known as Michaelmas Daisies. They have become very successful invaders. A number of our species are also commonly used in florists' arrangements.

• Rayless or Western Annual Aster
• Large Leaved Aster
• Heart Leaved Aster, Blue Wood Aster
• Arrow Leaved Aster
• Lindley's Aster, Fringed Blue Aster
• Smooth Aster
• New England Aster
• Purple Stemmed Aster
• Flat Topped White Aster
• Heath Aster
• Frost Aster, Frostweed Aster, Old Field Aster
• Rush or Northern Bog Aster
• Panicled Aster, Lance Leaved Aster
• Calico Aster, Small White Aster, Starved Aster, One Sided Aster
• Ontario Aster

Daisy Fleabanes (Erigeron)

The genus name is Greek for "early" (eri) "old man" (geron). This refers to the prominent pappus of silvery hairs on the disk florets, especially, which becomes very obvious as the flower head matures. There are at least 130 species worldwide but it is most prominent in the Americas. The name Fleabane seems to have been inherited from their close relation Canada Fleabane (Horseweed) which was, originally, Erigeron canadensis but is now placed in a separate genus Conyza as it is very different in appearance from the Daisy Fleabanes. This was, indeed, used to repel fleas! We have three native Erigeron species, Annual Daisy Fleabane, Rough Daisy Fleabane and the typical subspecies of Philadelphia Fleabane, which are all found throughout Bruce and Grey Counties. Both the Annual Daisy Fleabane and Philadelphia Fleabane have been introduced into Europe and have been very successful invaders, growing in disturbed areas as they often do here. We also have a second subspecies of Philadelphia Fleabane---Erigeron philadelphicus ssp. provancherii which is named for the well known Québec botanist, Léon Provancher (1820-1892) of the Université de Laval. This rare subspecies has only been found on the northern Bruce Peninsula in our area.

• Philadelphia Fleabane
• Annual Daisy Fleabane
• Rough Daisy Fleabane

Goldenrods (Solidago and Euthamia)

For most people, goldenrods are characterized by their tall sprays of tiny flower heads. However, not all Goldenrods conform to that picture. Some flower head arrangements are quite small and some even have white flower heads, but they belong in this group because, among other things, they will cross with other goldenrods. The botanical Latin name Solidago comes from a mediaeval Latin word meaning "to make whole." The single British species Solidago virgaurea was used for medicinal purposes. When the far more numerous North American species were discovered the same generic name was applied to them. One of our more common species, Grass Leaved Goldenrod, has been placed in a separate genus Euthamia. The differences were noted as long ago as 1818 and have been confirmed by modern research. As with the Asters, Goldenrods have been introduced as garden plants in Europe, and Solidago canadensis seems bent on taking over the British Isles. It was also observed recently as the centre piece in a grand floral arrangement in a Costa Rican hotel!

Note: goldenrods do NOT cause hayfever. The culprit is Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), an insignificant plant that blooms at the same time as the Goldenrods and produces copius amounts of pollen in late summer and early fall until the first frosts arrive.

• Upland White Aster
• Grass Leaved Goldenrod, Flat Topped Goldenrod
• Ohio Goldenrod
• Houghton's Goldenrod
• Smooth Goldenrod
• Canada Goldenrod
• Tall Goldenrod
• Rough Stemmed Goldenrod
• Gray Goldenrod, Gray Stemmed Goldenrod
• Sharp Leaved Goldenrod
• Early Goldenrod
• Zigzag Goldenrod
• Blue Stemmed Goldenrod
• Hairy Goldenrod
• Bog Goldenrod
• Ontario Goldenrod