White Wood Aster—Eurybia divaricata

Common name: White Wood Aster Genus Species: Eurybia divaricata Descrip(on: White wood aster grows in loose clumps with dark, sprawling, some6mes zigzag stems up to 2.5' tall. Dis6nc6ve leaves are heart-­‐shaped, stalked and coarsely toothed. Small but abundant flowers (to 1 inch across) have white rays and yellow to red center disks and appear in flat-­‐
topped, terminal clusters. Habitats: dry to moist open woods, clearings, and roadsides Phenology highlight: Daisy-­‐like flowers are a welcome source of pollen and nectar in late summer and early fall. Be alert for a variety of pollina6ng insects when observing the Photo credit: Celia Cuomo, communitygreenways.org flowers. Species facts •  White wood aster is pollinated by buHerflies, small na6ve bees, and other bees. •  Young leaves are edible when cooked. Photo credit: Celia Cuomo, communitygreenways.org Why observe this species? White wood aster is one of the plant species observed by New York Phenology Project member organiza6ons, and data gathered is contributed to the Na6onal Phenology Network database. The mission of this public par6cipa6on in science research ini6a6ve is to educate and engage the public while collec6ng data that is useful for detec6ng broad scale paHerns and changes in the natural world. Map credit: USDA, NRCS. 2014. The PLANTS Database hHp://plants.usda.gov, 02 June 2014). Na6onal Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-­‐4901 USA For more informa6on about phenology and the New York Phenology Project (NYPP), please visit the NYPP website (www.nyphenologyproject.org) and the USA-­‐NPN website (www.usanpn.org). Version 1 June 2015 White Wood Aster (Eurybia divaricata) Note: flower and fruit phenophases are nested so you may need to record more than one phenophase for each; for example, if you record Y for “open flowers” you should also record Y for “flowers or flower buds.” Ini(al Growth New growth is visible a^er a period of no growth (winter or drought), as new green shoots break through the soil. Growth is "ini6al” on each shoot un6l the first leaf has fully unfolded. Flowers or flower buds One or more fresh open or unopened flowers or flower buds are visible on the plant. Include flower buds that are s6ll developing, but do not include wilted or dried Celia Cuomo flowers. communitygreenways.org Fruits For white wood aster, the 6ny and seed-­‐
like fruits are crowded into a small spent flower head. The fruit has a tu^ of cream to reddish bristles and changes from yellow-­‐green to tan or brown. Do not include empty flower heads. Recent Fruit or Seed Drop One or more mature fruits dropped or have been removed from the plant since your last visit. Do not include immature fruits that have dropped before ripening or empty flower heads that remain on the plant. Leaves One or more live, fully unfolded leaves are visible on the plant. For seedlings, consider only true leaves but not two small leaves (cotyledons) that are found on the stem right a^er it sprouts. Celia Cuomo Do not include fully dried communitygreenways.org or dead leaves. Open Flowers Flowers are "open" when the reproduc6ve parts (male stamens or female pis6ls) are visible between open flower parts (petals, floral tubes or sepals). Do not Celia Cuomo include wilted or dried communitygreenways.org flowers. Ripe Fruits One or more ripe fruits are visible on the plant. For white wood aster, fruit is “ripe” when it has turned tan or brown, or when it readily drops from the spent flower head when touched. Do not include © Charlie Hohn empty flower heads. Na(ves in the Garden Home gardeners grow white wood aster and many other na6ve flowering plants. Na6ve flowers provide pollen, nectar and nes6ng sites for bees and other pollinators Celia Cuomo while contribu6ng to communitygreenways.org biodiversity. All phenophases pictured here Version 1 June 2015