Search / Plant Profile / Boltonia decurrens

Plant Profile

Decurrent False Aster (Boltonia decurrens)

Mature plants of this species produce typical white aster flowers from July through October. Photo Credit: Casey Galvin

Global Rank: G2 - Imperiled
Legal Status: Federally Threatened
Family: Asteraceae
State: IA, IL, MO
Nature Serve ID: 161342
Lifeform: Forb/herb
Date Inducted in National Collection: 05/28/1986

Description:

Endemic to Illinois and central eastern Missouri, Boltonia decurrens is one of the rarest native species in this region. In fact, until two Missouri Botanical Garden botanists rediscovered it north of St. Louis in 1986, the Decurrent false aster was thought to have been extirpated from Missouri. The species grows in open muddy bottomlands and is dependent upon disturbance from cyclical flooding to maintain the habitat suitable for its survival (USFWS 1990).

Where is Decurrent False Aster (Boltonia decurrens) located in the wild?

Habitat:

Historically, this species was found on the shores of lakes and the banks of streams including the Illinois River (USFWS 1990). Today, it is most common in disturbed lowland areas where human-caused disturbance provides adequate habitat (Hickey 1988; USFWS 1988, 1990).Commonly found with Acer saccharum, Populus deltoides, Salix nigra, Platanus occidentalis, Cornus racemosa (USFWS 1990).

Distribution:

Along the Illinois River in west central Illinois and along the Mississippi near St. Louis, primarily on the Illinois side.

States & Provinces:

Decurrent False Aster can be found in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri

Which CPC Partners conserve Decurrent False Aster (Boltonia decurrens)?

Missouri Botanical Garden

Conservation Actions

Nature Serve Biotics

05/02/2017

Historically known from almost contiguous populations along a 400 km stretch within the Illinois and Mississippi River floodplain, this species is reduced to about 40 populations of highly variable size. Habitat destruction and modification are believed to be the reasons for the decline. The species is dependent on periodic disturbance from major floods and seasonal fluctuations in water levels; however, the flood regime and seasonal water levels have been altered or stabilized by dams and levees and much former habitat has been modified into agricultural land. An increase in the amount of silt deposited on the floodplains (due to agricultural practices and extensive leveeing) has had a particularly detrimental effect. In spite of its rarity and geographic restriction, in good years large populations of this species may reach 10,000 individual plants. Also, a high level of genetic diversity is apparently present in the species as a whole. However, populations that are surviving on sites disturbed by human activities, rather than by flooding, are precarious - regular cultivation, intensive mowing, and heavy herbicide use could cause declines.

Kimberlie McCue, Ph.D.

01/01/2010

Threats include destruction and modification of floodplain habitat, agricultural expansion, flood control and blockage of seed germination by excess siltation (USFWS 1990).

Kimberlie McCue, Ph.D.

01/01/2010

The number of sites with above ground plants varies from year to year. The majority of sites are in Illinois, only one, possibly two, are extant in Missouri (USFWS 1990). In some years some sites have been reported to have hundreds of thousands of individuals.

Kimberlie McCue, Ph.D.

01/01/2010

Extensive research has been done and continues to be done by Dr. Marian Smith's Plant Physiological Ecology Laboratory in Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville (Smith and Keevin 1998, Smith and Mettler 2001).

Kimberlie McCue, Ph.D.

01/01/2010

There is no centralized management plan.

Kimberlie McCue, Ph.D.

01/01/2010

The potential of disking as a management strategy is being investigated. Research needs include understanding reproduction biology and ecology, seedling recruitment and habitat requirements.

Kimberlie McCue, Ph.D.

01/01/2010

Develop and maintain public support for the species