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Stokesia (plant)
Encyclopedia
Stokesia laevis is a species of flowering plant native to southeastern North America, the only species in the genus Stokesia. It is in the daisy family
. The flowers appear in the summer and are purple (sometimes blue, pale purple, or even white). The plant is cultivated and several cultivar
s are available. It is sometimes known as Cornflower aster or Stokes' aster.
Like a few other plants (such as some species of Vernonia
), it contains vernolic acid, a vegetable oil with commercial applications.
It is named after Jonathan Stokes
(1755–1831), English botanist and member of the Lunar Society
of Birmingham.
Asteraceae
The Asteraceae or Compositae , is an exceedingly large and widespread family of vascular plants. The group has more than 22,750 currently accepted species, spread across 1620 genera and 12 subfamilies...
. The flowers appear in the summer and are purple (sometimes blue, pale purple, or even white). The plant is cultivated and several cultivar
Cultivar
A cultivar'Cultivar has two meanings as explained under Formal definition. When used in reference to a taxon, the word does not apply to an individual plant but to all those plants sharing the unique characteristics that define the cultivar. is a plant or group of plants selected for desirable...
s are available. It is sometimes known as Cornflower aster or Stokes' aster.
Like a few other plants (such as some species of Vernonia
Vernonia
Vernonia is a genus of about 1000 species of forbs and shrubs in the family Asteraceae. Some species are known as Ironweed. Some species are edible and of economic value. They are known for having intense purple flowers. The genus is named for English botanist William Vernon. There are numerous...
), it contains vernolic acid, a vegetable oil with commercial applications.
It is named after Jonathan Stokes
Jonathan Stokes
Jonathan Stokes was an English physician and botanist, a member of the Lunar Society of Birmingham, and an early adopter of the heart drug digitalis.-Life and work:...
(1755–1831), English botanist and member of the Lunar Society
Lunar Society
The Lunar Society of Birmingham was a dinner club and informal learned society of prominent figures in the Midlands Enlightenment, including industrialists, natural philosophers and intellectuals, who met regularly between 1765 and 1813 in Birmingham, England. At first called the Lunar Circle,...
of Birmingham.