Symphyotrichum depauperatum

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Symphyotrichum depauperatum
Two white composite flowers with yellow centers and several buds along a green stalk. Leaves on the stalk are very tiny.
S. depauperatum from the serpentine grassland demonstration area in Nottingham County Park.

Imperiled (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Symphyotrichum
Subgenus: Symphyotrichum subg. Symphyotrichum
Section: Symphyotrichum sect. Symphyotrichum
Species:
S. depauperatum
Binomial name
Symphyotrichum depauperatum
(Fernald) G.L.Nesom
Synonyms[2]

Basionym

  • Aster depauperatus Fernald
Alphabetical list

Symphyotrichum depauperatum (formerly Aster depauperatus), commonly known as serpentine aster,[3][4] is a rare species in the family Asteraceae adapted to serpentine barrens, an ecosystem with a high concentration of toxic metals in the soil. It has been found in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina. It grows to 50 centimeters (1+3⁄4 feet) and has white ray florets surrounding a center of yellow disk florets.

Description[]

Symphyotrichum depauperatum is a perennial, herbaceous plant that may reach up to 50 centimeters (1+3⁄4 feet) tall, with 1–3 stems. The leaves are narrow and generally 2–4 centimeters (3⁄4–1+1⁄2 inches) long. The plant produces numerous flower heads in branched arrays, each head with 7–14 white or, rarely, pink ray florets surrounding 7–17 yellow disk florets.[3]

  • Symphyotrichum depauperatum 50071438.jpg
  • Symphyotrichum depauperatum 67278234.jpg
  • Symphyotrichum depauperatum 619554.jpg

Distribution and habitat[]

Symphyotrichum depauperatum grows in serpentine barrens in the east-central United States (Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina),[3] and has been called a "flagship" species of this unique ecosystem. It was previously thought to be endemic to these barrens, but it was found to also occur in a disjoint population on in North Carolina.[5]

Conservation[]

Symphyotrichum depauperatum is classified by the state of Pennsylvania as a threatened species because its range is restricted to a few limited areas, and the majority of its populations occur on sites threatened by quarrying, housing development, and industrial development.[6]

As of July 2021, NatureServe listed it as globally Imperiled (G2); Critically Imperiled (S1) in Maryland and North Carolina; and, Imperiled (S2) in Pennsylvania. No data was shown for Virginia.[1]

Citations[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b NatureServe 2021.
  2. ^ POWO 2019.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c Brouillet et al. 2006.
  4. ^ USDA, NRCS 2014.
  5. ^ Gustafson & Latham 2005.
  6. ^ Pennsylvania DCNR n.d.

References[]

  • Brouillet, L.; Semple, J.C.; ; ; (2006). "Symphyotrichum depauperatum". In Flora of North America Editorial Committee (ed.). Flora of North America North of Mexico (FNA). 20. New York and Oxford. Retrieved 3 July 2021 – via eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
  • Gustafson, D.J.; Latham, R.E. (June 2005). "Is the serpentine aster, Symphyotrichum depauperatum (Fern.) Nesom, a valid species and actually endemic to eastern serpentine barrens?". Biodiversity and Conservation. 14 (6). doi:10.1007/s10531-004-9670-x.
  • NatureServe (2 July 2021). "Symphyotrichum depauperatum Serpentine Aster". NatureServe Explorer (explorer.natureserve.org). Arlington, Virginia: NatureServe. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  • Pennsylvania DCNR (n.d.). "Serpentine Aster profile". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation, Natural Resources Wildlife Resource Conservation Fund. Archived from the original on 10 June 2011. Retrieved 19 September 2009.
  • POWO (2019). "Symphyotrichum depauperatum (Fernald) G.L.Nesom". Plants of the World Online (powo.science.kew.org). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  • USDA, NRCS (2014). "Symphyotrichum depauperatum". USDA PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 3 July 2021.


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