This is a very common late summer and fall wildflower.  It spreads by underground runners and forms large patches.  Its numerous flowers are only about a half inch high and wide with soft white rays and light yellow disks.   Leaves are soft green, and over-all the plant presents a soft and fuzzy, somewhat unkempt appearance.  

This plant was first collected by John Richardson in the 1820s and named Aster falcatus in Hooker's Flora Boreali-Americana in 1834.   The plant has endured a number of name changes and Virgulus was applied to it by Reveal and Keener in 1981.  (In 1837 Rafinesque named the Virgulus genus from the Latin for "little twig".) 

Kartesz and the USDA Plant Database now place the plant in the genus Symphyotrichum. "Symphyotrichum" is from the Greek "symphyos" (growing together) and "thrix" (hair)  --  but it is not known what these words refer to.  "Falcatus" is Latin for "sickle"  --  also of unknown reference.

Range map © John Kartesz,
Floristic Synthesis of North America

State Color Key

Species present in state and native
Species present in state and exotic
Species not present in state

County Color Key

Species present and not rare
Species present and rare
Species extirpated (historic)
Species extinct
Species noxious
Species exotic and present
Native species, but adventive in state
Eradicated
Questionable presence

Range map for Symphyotrichum falcatum