Eurybia macrophylla, commonly known as the bigleaf aster,[3]large-leaved aster,[4]largeleaf aster or bigleaf wood aster, is an herbaceous perennial in the family Asteraceae that was formerly treated in the genus Aster. It is native to eastern North America, with a range extending from eastern and central Canada (from Nova Scotia to Manitoba) through the northeastern deciduous and mixed forests of New England and the Great Lakes region and south along the Appalachians as far as the northeastern corner of Georgia, and west as far as Minnesota, Missouri and Arkansas.[5] The flowers appear in the late summer to early fall and show ray florets that are usually either a deep lavender or violet, but sometimes white, and disc florets that are cream-coloured or light yellow, becoming purple as they mature. It is one of the parent species of the hybrid Eurybia × herveyi.[6]
Description
Eurybia macrophylla is a perennial herbaceous plant with alternate, simple, toothed leaves. The basal leaves are large and heart-shaped, whereas the upper stem leaves are smaller and lance-shaped.[7] The flowers form on flat-topped corymbs.[8]
Growth form of Eurybia macrophylla, showing large, heart-shaped basal leaves and lance-shaped upper leaves
Conservation status within the United States
It is listed as endangered in Iowa and as a special concern in Rhode Island.[3]
Uses
The large, thick young leaves can be cooked and eaten as greens.[9] The Algonquin people of Quebec use the leaves in this way.[10]
The Iroquois use the root as a blood medicine, and they also use a compound decoction of the roots to loosen the bowels to treat venereal disease.[11] The Ojibwa bathe their heads with an infusion of this plant to treat headaches.[12] They also smoke it as hunting charm to attract deer.[13] They consume the young leaves of the plant as both food and medicine, and use the roots to make soup.[14]
References
^NatureServe (2006), "Eurybia macrophylla", NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life, Version 6.1., Arlington, Virginia, archived from the original on 2007-09-29, retrieved 2007-06-13{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^ abUSDA, NRCS (n.d.), "Eurybia macrophylla", The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team, retrieved 22 January 2018
Black, Meredith Jean (1980), Algonquin Ethnobotany: An Interpretation of Aboriginal Adaptation in South Western Quebec, Mercury Series Number 65, Ottawa: National Museums of Canada
Herrick, James William (1977), Iroquois Medical Botany (PhD thesis), Albany: State University of New York
Reeves, Sonja L. (2006), "Eurybia macrophylla", Fire Effects Information System (FEIS), US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service (USFS), Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory
Smith, Huron H. (1932), "Ethnobotany of the Ojibwe Indians", Bulletin of the Public Museum of Milwaukee, 4: 327–525
Thieret, John W. (2001), National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers, New York: Random House, ISBN0-375-40232-2