Stokesia laevis

{{Short description|Species of plant}}

{{Other uses|Stokesia (disambiguation){{!}}Stokesia}}

{{Speciesbox

|image = Stokesia laevis0.jpg

|status = G4

|status_system = TNC

|status_ref =

|display_parents = 3

|genus = Stokesia (plant)

|parent_authority = L'Hér.

|species = laevis

|authority = (Hill) Greene

|synonyms = Carthamus laevis

}}

Stokesia is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the daisy family, Asteraceae, containing the single species Stokesia laevis. Common names include Stokes' aster and stokesia.{{GRIN | accessdate = 19 January 2018}}[http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=stokesia+laevis Stokesia laevis.] NatureServe. 2012.

The species is native to the southeastern United States.

The flowers appear in the summer and are purple, blue, or white in nature.[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=131617 Stokesia L’Héritier.] Flora of North America. The plant is cultivated as a garden flower. Several cultivars are available, including the cornflower blue 'Klaus Jelitto', 'Colorwheel', which is white, turning purple over time, and 'Blue Danube', which has a blue flower head with a white center.[http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/plant-finder/plant-details/kc/i900/stokesia-laevis.aspx Stokesia laevis.] Missouri Botanical Garden. More unusual cultivars include the pink-flowered 'Rosea' and yellow-flowered 'Mary Gregory'.[http://www.floridata.com/ref/s/stok_lae.cfm Stokesia laevis.] Floridata.

Like a few other plants (such as some species of Vernonia), it contains vernolic acid, a vegetable oil with commercial applications.Cahoon, E. B., et al. (2002). [http://www.plantphysiology.org/content/128/2/615.full Transgenic production of epoxy fatty acids by expression of a cytochrome p450 enzyme from Euphorbia lagascae seed.] Plant Physiology 128(2), 615-24.

The genus is named after Jonathan Stokes (1755–1831), English botanist and physician.