Flower · GBIF taxon 3099206
whorled wood aster
Oclemena acuminataAlso known as Whorled Aster, Mountain Aster, Sharp-leaved Aster, Pointed-leaved Aster
Whorled wood asters carpet northern hardwood understories with distinctive umbrella-like whorls of sharply toothed leaves clustered just below loose flower clusters. Blooming from midsummer through early autumn, their delicate white to pale purplish composite heads provide a critical late-season nectar supply for woodland pollinators. Underground rhizomes allow robust colonies to spread across rich, acidic forest floors, especially in high-elevation Appalachian and boreal transition zones.
WildflowerWoodlandPerennial
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Sunlight
- Water
- Soil Nutrients
Predators
- White-tailed Deer
- Herbivorous Caterpillars
- Land Snails
ThreatsCanopy removal, habitat fragmentation, and heavy browsing by white-tailed deer
HabitatsMoist deciduous woods, montane hardwood slopes, hemlock forests, and forest edges
Life spanPerennial (indefinite via clonal rhizomes)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderAsterales
- FamilyAsteraceae
- GenusOclemena
- SpeciesOclemena acuminata
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Identification: Look for broad, jagged leaves that appear clustered in a single pseudowhorl near the top of the stem.
- Habitat Clues: Seek them out along shaded hiking trails through mixed birch, maple, and hemlock woodlands in late summer.
- Leave Undisturbed: Avoid trampling the surrounding forest leaf litter, as the shallow rhizomes are easily damaged.
Frequent Companion (c) Michael J. Papay, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michael J. Papay · cc-by
Competitor (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
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