Bog Aster
Oclemena nemoralis
(formerly Aster nemoralis) |
 Other common names:
Wood Aster
Other scientific names:
Aster nemoralis, Eucephalus nemoralis, Galatella nemoralis
French names:
Aster de bois
Family:
Composite Family (Asteraceae)
Group:
Asters
Distinctive features:
Small plant. Grows in bogs. Leaves are small, stiff, and have inrolled margins.
Similar species:
•
Rush Aster (Symphyotrichum boreale) - Also grows in bogs.
•
Purple-stemmed Aster (Symphyotrichum puniceum) - Also grows in wet areas.
Flowers:
Summer, Autumn; Blue/Violet; 7 or more parts (petals); Usually a large (2.5-4cm in diameter) single flower at the top of the stem. Possibly up to three flowers per plant - other flowers are each on their own slender stalk. Ray flowers: 15-25, light violet-purple, pale to deep pink. Disc flowers: 20-35, yellow becoming purple. Floral bracts narrow, purple-tinged.
Leaves:
Alternate, Simple, Entire; Small, very numerous, decreasing in size up the stem, toothless, tapered at both ends.
Height:
20-70 cm (7-27 in)
Habitat:
Wet Areas, Bogs and Fens; Wet areas, bogs. In the region north of Barrie & south of North Bay, and north of Sault Ste. Marie.
Grows in Sun/Shade:
Sun
Lifespan:
Perennial.
Books:
Newcomb's Wildflower Guide: 460
Native/Non-native:
Native
Status:
Not common in Ontario.
Notes:
This Aster is not very common in Ontario. All the photos on this page are of specimens in Newfoundland.
Photographs:
124 photographs available, of which 3 are featured on this page. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOGRAPHS.
Range Map is at the bottom of the page
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This Aster grows in bogs. It's a small plant. Note my finger in the left part of the photo - this shows how small this species is. |
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A closer view of a Bog Aster flower. There's usually only between one and three flowers on a plant. |
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These photos were taken in Gros Morne National Park in Newfoundland, in late July. In Ontario this species is found in the general area north of Barrie to south of North Bay, and north of Sault Ste. Marie. |
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Range map for Bog Aster (Oclemena nemoralis)
PLEASE NOTE: A coloured Province or State means this species occurs somewhere in that Province/State.
The entire Province/State is coloured, regardless of where in that Province/State it occurs.
(Range map provided courtesy of the USDA website
and is displayed here in accordance with their
Policies)
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