SCIENTIFIC NAME: Oligoneuron album (Aster ptarmicoides)
COMMON NAMES: Stiff White Aster, White Goldenrod, Prairie Goldenrod, Stiff Aster, Stiff Goldenrod , White Upland Aster, White Upland Goldenrod, & White Flat-topped Goldenrod.
BLOOM TIME: June, July, Aug, Sept
PLANT PROFILE:
- Slender branching 2 ft. plants with narrow leaves.
- White petal flowers form an open flattop cluster with each head ¾ in.
- Likes prairies but is only occasional in north half of Illinois absent elsewhere.
- Now considered to be more closely related to goldenrods than asters.
INSECT/ANIMAL INTERACTIONS:
- Little known about floral-faunal relationship.
- The rare Karner's Blue butterfly & rare Poweshiek Skipperling skipper visit the flowerhead.
- The common Pennsylvania Soldier Beetle also have been seen on flowerhead.
- The butterfly & skipper feed on nectar.
- The soldier beetle probably feeds on pollen.
- Many other insects undoubtedly visit its flowerheads.