| Stokesia | |
|---|---|
| Stokesia laevis | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Tribe: | Vernonieae |
| Genus: | Stokesia L'Héritier de Brutelle |
| Species: | Stokesia laevis (Hill) Greene |
| Synonyms | |
|
Stokesia cyanea[1] |
|
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).[2] The plant is cultivated and several cultivars are available.[3] 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.[4]
It is named after Jonathan Stokes (1755–1831), English botanist and member of the Lunar Society of Birmingham.