Wayside Aster / Center For Plant Conservation
Search / Plant Profile / Eucephalus vialis
Plant Profile

Wayside Aster (Eucephalus vialis)

Not your typical showy aster: Aster vialis in bloom showing its rayless inflorescences. Photo Credit: Ed Alverson
  • Global Rank: G3 - Vulnerable
  • Legal Status: N/A
  • Family: Asteraceae
  • State: CA, OR
  • Nature Serve ID: 155792
  • Lifeform: Forb/herb
  • Date Inducted in National Collection: 03/14/1986
Description:

Like so many other species, wayside aster is fighting an uphill battle to survive. To add insult to injury, it is not even a very attractive plant. Wayside aster lacks the showy, petal-like \"ray flowers\" that help many recognize other asters. This understated flower is threatened by habitat changes within its limited range in and around Oregon's Willamette Valley, and is in danger of quietly disappearing. Seedling recruitment appears nonexistent in some populations, a grave sign of its uncertain future. Wayside aster's reproductive biology and habitat requirements make it especially vulnerable in human altered ecosystems. While many plant species self-pollinate, Aster vialis require pollen from other individuals in order to produce seeds. Increasing forest fragmentation makes obtaining pollen more difficult as great distances often separate plants. Even after this distance barrier is overcome, seed set is low. Experimental hand pollinations in the greenhouse typically produce few seeds. Additionally, germination rates are often extremely low in laboratory conditions. These low germination rates likely reflect that specific conditions, such as light and an absence of leaf litter, are necessary in order to break dormancy. Vigorous and reproductive Aster vialis plants are found in habitats that receive abundant light. Fire historically played a large role in maintaining open understory habitats in and around the Willamette Valley. As opposed to the clear-cut or regeneration forest harvest methods used today, fire historically did not result in the death of all the trees in the stand. Larger fire tolerant trees such as Douglas fir and ponderosa pine often survived and provided some shade. Natural regeneration after a fire is patchy, resulting in forest gaps that provided habitat with high light levels suitable for wayside aster. Fire also burns away leaf litter, creating conditions thought necessary for germination by exposing the ground to sunlight and returning nutrients to the soil. In pre-settlement Oregon, wayside aster most likely did not persist in specific locations over long periods of time, but new populations were continually established as new habitats were created by natural disturbances. Under land-use practices today, this regeneration cycle is made more difficult due to a lack of available habitat.

Where is Wayside Aster (Eucephalus vialis) located in the wild?

Habitat:

Found in woodlands on mineral soil with little leaf litter, between 500-1500 ft (150-460 m) elevation (Meinke 1982) Associated species include Pseudotsuga menziesii, Castanopsis chrysophylla, and Arbutus menziesii (Meinke 1982)

Distribution:

OR: Willamette Valley, Klamath Mountains, Western Cascades, Coast Range (Lane and Douglas Counties)

States & Provinces:

Wayside Aster can be found in California, Oregon

Which CPC Partners conserve Wayside Aster (Eucephalus vialis)?

CPC's Plant Sponsorship Program provides long term stewardship of rare plants in our National Collection. We are so grateful for all our donors who have made the Plant Sponsorship Program so successful. We are in the process of acknowledging all our wonderful plant sponsorship donors on our website. This is a work in progress and will be updated regularly.

Conservation Actions

  • 09/10/2020
  • Propagation Research

In vitro germination procedures developed by CREW (Center for Reproduction of Endangered Wildlife) at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden (BBG File).

  • 09/10/2020
  • Reproductive Research

Breeding system experiments utilizing different pollination treatments demonstrated that Aster vialis is completely self-sterile (Kaye et al. 1991)

  • 09/10/2020
  • Propagation Research

Study of seed structure (Florance 1994). Germination trials. Embryos were excised (removed from the seed coat and endosperm sac), and then treated with solutions of varying pH. Slightly basic solutions led to development of the embryos, suggesting that pH may have a major effect on breaking seed dormancy. In the wild, events such as fire that affect soil pH may be important in seed germination and population maintenance (Florance 1994)

  • 09/10/2020
  • Propagation Research

Germination trials conducted at The Berry Botanic Garden. Initial results indicated very low germination (about 3%). A 50C heat treatment increased germination to ~15%, indicating that heat treatment helps break seed dormancy (Guerrant 1991) Germination trials. After 8 weeks of cold stratification, 60-80% of seeds germinated in constant 20C or alternating 20/10C. When embryos were excised (removed from the seed coat) and then subjected to 8 weeks of cold stratification, 100% germination was obtained with either constant 20C or alternating 10/20C temperatures (BBG File).

  • 09/10/2020
  • Genetic Research

Researchers investigated the levels of genetic diversity within and among populations, clonal-spread, and geographic components of genetic variation for populations in the Eugene and Roseburg BLM Districts. Mean genetic diversity in Aster vialis was found to be lower that that of other plants investigated using the same ISSR protocol. Putative clones were identified within several populations by shared haplotypes, and patterns of presence and absence of loci. However, some haplotypes were shared between disjunct populations, indicating that ISSR haplotype analysis may underestimate genetic variation. Estimated among population differentiation from allele frequencies was intermediate, and the greatest variation was contained within populations. Patterns of genetic differentiation did not generally match spatial distribution (Erhart and Liston 2001). Taxonomic review (Kaye et al. 1991)

Nature Serve Biotics
  • 05/02/2017

This species' range is limited to central and southern, western Oregon and the very northern border of California. There are about 100 populations known, with a total of fewer than 9000 individual plants. Many of populations are along roadsides and in areas of residential development; none are considered protected.

Edward Guerrant, Ph.D.
  • 01/01/2010

Habitat loss due to urbanization and agricultural development (Meinke 1982). Habitat fragmentation leading to decreased pollen flow and inbreeding depression. (Kaye et al. 1991 and Wogen 1998). Fire suppression, which leads to excessive understory br

Edward Guerrant, Ph.D.
  • 01/01/2010

As of 2001: 81 known sites; a few large populations exist, but most populations contain fewer than 100 stems.

Edward Guerrant, Ph.D.
  • 01/01/2010

Taxonomic review (Kaye et al. 1991) In vitro germination procedures developed by CREW (Center for Reproduction of Endangered Wildlife) at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden (BBG File). Breeding system experiments utilizing different pollination treatments demonstrated that Aster vialis is completely self-sterile (Kaye et al. 1991) Study of seed structure (Florance 1994). Germination trials. Embryos were excised (removed from the seed coat and endosperm sac), and then treated with solutions of varying pH. Slightly basic solutions led to development of the embryos, suggesting that pH may have a major effect on breaking seed dormancy. In the wild, events such as fire that affect soil pH may be important in seed germination and population maintenance (Florance 1994) Germination trials conducted at The Berry Botanic Garden. Initial results indicated very low germination (about 3%). A 50C heat treatment increased germination to ~15%, indicating that heat treatment helps break seed dormancy (Guerrant 1991) Germination trials. After 8 weeks of cold stratification, 60-80% of seeds germinated in constant 20C or alternating 20/10C. When embryos were excised (removed from the seed coat) and then subjected to 8 weeks of cold stratification, 100% germination was obtained with either constant 20C or alternating 10/20C temperatures (BBG File). Researchers investigated the levels of genetic diversity within and among populations, clonal-spread, and geographic components of genetic variation for populations in the Eugene and Roseburg BLM Districts. Mean genetic diversity in Aster vialis was found to be lower that that of other plants investigated using the same ISSR protocol. Putative clones were identified within several populations by shared haplotypes, and patterns of presence and absence of loci. However, some haplotypes were shared between disjunct populations, indicating that ISSR haplotype analysis may underestimate genetic variation. Estimated among population differentiation from allele frequencies was intermediate, and the greatest variation was contained within populations. Patterns of genetic differentiation did not generally match spatial distribution (Erhart and Liston 2001).

Edward Guerrant, Ph.D.
  • 01/01/2010

Listed Threatened in Oregon Aster vialis falls under the jurisdiction of The Northwest Forest Plan where it has been identified as a species associated with late-successional and old-growth forests. It also has BLM Special Status Plant Species designation and is classified as a BLM Sensitive species. The Eugene District BLM initiated monitoring in 1989. Results from this monitoring however, reveal few trends in population numbers. A multi-agency and organization proposal to determine the response of Aster vialis to habitat modification at several sites in the Eugene District, and subsequent improvement of potential habitat has been developed. Seed from at least 13 populations collected and stored at the Berry Botanic Garden.

Edward Guerrant, Ph.D.
  • 01/01/2010

Conduct inventories for Aster vialis. (Kaye et al. 1991) Determine how seed predation and browsing impact reproduction (Wogen 1998) Determine ecological and habitat requirements, especially for promoting and maintaining seedling recruitment and flowering. (Kaye et al. 1991 and Wogen 1998) Remove leaf litter and canopy shade through periodic burning. (Wogen 1998) Genetic studies using co-dominant markers, such as microsatellites, to show true allelic heterozygosity and parentage within populations (Erhart and Liston 2001). Determine mechanisms that limit genetic diversity within populations (Erhart and Liston 2001). Maintain and protect as many of the known sites as possible due to potential inbreeding depression when pollen flow is restricted to a single site (Kuykendall 1991). Determine the effect of habitat fragmentation and extent of inbreeding depression. Study the impact of pollination reduction (Kaye et al. 1991 and Wogen 1998) Further investigate the roll of pH in seed germination (Florance 1994).

Edward Guerrant, Ph.D.
  • 01/01/2010

Collect and store seeds from known populations. Determine optimum propagation and reintroduction methods.

MORE

Be the first to post an update!

Nomenclature
Taxon Eucephalus vialis
Authority Bradshaw
Family Asteraceae
CPC Number 356
ITIS 508094
USDA EUVI8
Duration Perennial
Common Names way-side aster | wayside aster
Associated Scientific Names Aster vialis | Eucephalus vialis
Distribution OR: Willamette Valley, Klamath Mountains, Western Cascades, Coast Range (Lane and Douglas Counties)
State Rank
State State Rank
California S1
Oregon S3
Ecological Relationships

Photos
Pollinators
Common Name Name in Text Association Type Source InteractionID
Bees
Bumble bees Bombus vosnesenskii Confirmed Pollinator Link
Sweat bees Lasioglossum Confirmed Pollinator Link
Butterflies & Moths
Skippers Ochlodes sylvanoides Confirmed Pollinator Link
Beetles
Blister beetles Epicanta puncticollis Confirmed Pollinator Link
Reintroduction
Lead Institution State Reintroduction Type Year of First Outplanting
Institute for Applied Ecology - Oregon Oregon Reinforcement 2001

Donate to CPC to Save this Species

CPC secures rare plants for future generations by coordinating on-the-ground conservation and training the next generation of plant conservation professionals. Donate today to help save rare plants from extinction.

Donate Today