Boltonia asteroides

Boltonia asteroides may be distinguished from B. diffusa by the presence of a wider receptacle (about 10 mm wide), compared to three to six mm wide for B. diffusa, and pappus awns about one mm long while those of B. diffusa measure less than one mm long. Boltonia may be distinguished from similar small asters by its fruit, which is winged with two bristles at the apex and vertical stripes on its stems.

Seed germination improves with cold/moist stratification (Steffen 1997). Seed average approximately 3,300,000/lb.

Charles Robertson, 1928: (Bees collect pollen or suck nectar; Syrphid flies feed on pollen or suck nectar; beetles usually feed on pollen & are non-pollinating, otherwise they suck nectar; other insects suck nectar; observations are from Robertson) Bees (long-tongued) Apidae (Apinae): Apis mellifera fq; Apidae (Bombini): Bombus fraternus, Bombus impatiens, Bombus pensylvanica; Anthophoridae (Epeolini): Epeolus bifasciatus, Epeolus pusillus, Triepeolus cressonii cressonii fq, Triepeolus pectoralis fq; Anthophoridae (Eucerini): Melissodes boltoniae fq, Melissodes dentiventris, Melissodes nivea, Melissodes rustica fq, Svastra obliqua obliqua; Anthophoridae (Nomadini): Nomada placida; Megachilidae (Coelioxini): Coelioxys octodentata; Megachilidae (Megachilini): Megachile brevis brevis fq, Megachile latimanus, Megachile mendica, Megachile parallela parallela; Megachilidae (Trypetini): Heriades leavitti Bees (short-tongued) Halictidae (Halictinae): Agapostemon sericea, Halictus confusus, Halictus ligatus, Halictus parallelus, Lasioglossum imitatus, Lasioglossum obscurus, Lasioglossum pruinosus, Lasioglossum versatus fq; Halictidae (Sphecodini): Sphecodes cressonii; Colletidae (Colletinae): Colletes americana fq, Colletes compactus, Colletes eulophi; Colletidae (Hylaeinae): Hylaeus affinis, Hylaeus mesillae fq; Andrenidae (Andreninae): Andrena simplex fq icp; Andrenidae (Panurginae): Calliopsis coloradensis fq icp, Heterosarus compositarum, Heterosarus solidaginis, Perdita boltoniae olg Wasps Sphecidae (Astatinae): Astata unicolor; Sphecidae (Bembicinae): Bembix americana; Sphecidae (Larrinae): Ancistromma distincta; Sphecidae (Philanthinae): Eucerceris fulvipes; Sphecidae (Sphecinae): Ammophila nigricans, Ammophila pictipennis, Prionyx thomae; Vespidae: Polistes fuscata; Vespidae (Eumeninae): Stenodynerus ammonia, Stenodynerus anormis; Scoliidae: Scolia bicincta; Ichneumonidae: Ceratogastra ornata Flies Syrphidae: Eristalis dimidiatus, Eristalis stipator, Eupeodes americanus, Paragus tibialis, Pseudodoros clavatus, Sphaerophoria contiqua, Spilomyia longicornis, Spilomyia sayi, Syritta pipiens fq, Toxomerus geminatus, Toxomerus marginatus, Toxomerus politus; Empidae: Empis clausa; Bombyliidae: Chrysanthrax cypris, Sparnopolius confusus fq, Systoechus vulgaris, Systropus macer, Toxophora amphitea; Conopidae: Robertsonomyia palpalis icp, Thecophora occidensis, Zodion americanum, Zodion fulvifrons; Tachinidae: Acemya tibialis, Acroglossa hesperidarum fq, Archytas analis, Clausicella floridensis, Cylindromyia dosiades, Gnadochaeta globosa, Gnadochaeta nigrifrons, Gymnoclytia immaculata, Gymnoclytia occidua, Gymnosoma fuliginosum, Leucostoma neomexicana, Leucostoma simplex, Lixophaga variabilis, Paradidyma singularis, Phasia aeneoventris, Phasia purpurascens fq, Phorantha magna, Phyllomya cremides, Plagiomima spinosula, Senotainia rubriventris, Tachinomyia panaetius; Sarcophagidae: Amobia signata, Blaesoxipha hunteri, Sarcophaga sinuata, Sphixapata trilineata fq; Calliphoridae: Cochliomyia macellaria, Helicobia rapax, Lucilia sericata; Muscidae: Graphomya americana, Limnophora narona, Neomyia cornicina, Stomoxys calcitrans; Anthomyiidae: Calythea nigricans, Calythea pratincola, Leucophora siphonina; Sepsidae: Sepsis violacea; Tephritidae: Dioxyna picciola fq Butterflies Nymphalidae: Danaus plexippes, Junonia coenia, Phyciodes tharos, Vanessa cardui, Vanessa virginiensis; Lycaenidae: Everes comyntas, Lycaena hyllus, Lycaena phlaeas, Strymon melinus; Pieridae: Colias philodice, Pieris rapae, Pontia protodice Skippers Hesperiidae: Ancyloxypha numitor, Hylephila phyleus, Polites peckius, Polites themistocles Moths Arctiidae: Utetheisa bella; Ctenuchidae: Cisseps fulvicollis; Noctuidae: Helicoverpa zea Beetles Cantharidae: Chauliognathus pennsylvanicus fq sn; Chrysomelidae: Diabrotica longicornis fq fp np, Diabrotica undecimpunctata fp np; Coccinellidae: Hippodamia parenthesis fp np Plant Bugs Miridae: Lygus lineolaris fq sn

Ditches, savannas, and marshes.