Symphyotrichum firmum

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Symphyotrichum firmum
Symphyotrichum firmum thunder bay.png
In Ontario, Canada

Secure (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. firmum
Binomial name
Symphyotrichum firmum
Synonyms[2]

Basionym

  • Aster firmus Nees
Alphabetical list

Symphyotrichum firmum (formerly Aster firmus), commonly known as shining aster, shiny-leaved aster,[3] smooth swamp aster,[4] and glossy-leaved aster,[5] is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family Asteraceae native to Canada and the United States.

Description[]

Symphyotrichum firmum is a is a perennial herbaceous plant that can reach heights of 2 meters (6+1⁄2 feet). It forms large colonies with long, creeping rhizomes. The stem is hairless or it may have stiff, short hairs, often formed in vertical lines. It is sometimes dark red or purple at the nodes (where the leaf connects to the stem). The leaves are alternate, up to 15 cm (6 in) long and 3 cm (1+1⁄5 in) wide, and clasp the stem. The main vein on the lower leaf surface is hairless or slightly hairy near the tip.[5][6]

It flowers August through October. The flower heads are 1.5 to 3.5 cm (5⁄8 to 1+3⁄8 in) across with up to 40 ray florets and 50 disc florets. The ray florets range from white to pale blue or lavender. The disc florets are yellow to cream-colored, becoming pink or purple with maturity.[5][6]

S. firmum has a diploid chromosome count with a base number of x = 8 (2n = 16).[5]

Compared to the closely-related Symphyotrichum puniceum, S. firmum is less hairy overall, has denser inflorescences of smaller, whiter flowers, and grows in larger, denser patches.[4][6]

  • Symphyotrichum puniceum on left and S. firmum on right

  • Involucre showing phyllaries and bracts

  • Flower heads close-up

Taxonomy[]

Symphyotrichum firmum is closely related and morphologically very similar to Symphyotrichum puniceum (purple-stemmed aster), and is not always treated as a separate species. However, there is little evidence of intergrades between the two taxa, and most sources now treat them as distinct.[5][6]

Distribution and habitat[]

Its range is poorly known due to confusion with the closely related Symphyotrichum puniceum.[5] In Canada it has been recorded from Alberta to Quebec.[3] In the United States, it occurs in the Midwest, some parts of the Northeast, and in the Appalachian Mountains south to Georgia.[5][6][2] It is more common in the western part of its range.[6]

Symphyotrichum firmum grows in moist and sunny areas such as fens and wet prairies.[4][7] It is often found growing with S. puniceum.[6] Unlike S. puniceum, it sometimes spreads into drier areas.[4]

Ecology[]

Bees that have been observed visiting the flowers include the bicolored striped-sweat bee (Agapostemon virescens), various bumble bees (Bombus species), small carpenter bees (Ceratina species), the sweat bee named Halictus ligatus, and Drury's long-horned bee ().[a][7]

Conservation[]

As of November 2020, NatureServe listed Symphyotrichum firmum as Secure (G5) worldwide and Critically Imperiled (S1) in North Carolina, Vulnerable (S3) in Quebec, and Presumed Extirpated (SX) in New Jersey.[1]

Notes[]

  1. ^ As Melissodes druriella in Wilhelm & Rericha.[7]

Citations[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b NatureServe 2020.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c POWO 2019.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b Brouillet et al. 2019.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Reznicek, Voss & Walters 2011.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g Brouillet et al. 2006.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g Warners & Laughlin 1999.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b c Wilhelm & Rericha 2017, p. 1100.

References[]

  • Brouillet, L.; Desmet, P.; Coursol, F.; Meades, S.J.; Favreau, M.; Anions, M.; Bélisle, P.; Gendreau, C.; Shorthouse, D. (2019). "Symphyotrichum firmum (Nees) G.L. Nesom". data.canadensys.net. Database of Vascular Plants of Canada (VASCAN). Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  • Brouillet, L.; Semple, J.C.; ; ; (2006). "Symphyotrichum firmum". In Flora of North America Editorial Committee (ed.). Flora of North America North of Mexico (FNA). 20. New York and Oxford. Retrieved 5 July 2021 – via eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
  • NatureServe (10 November 2020). "Symphyotrichum firmum - Swamp Aster". NatureServe Explorer (explorer.natureserve.org). NatureServe. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  • POWO (2019). "Symphyotrichum firmum (Nees) G.L.Nesom". Plants of the World Online (www.plantsoftheworldonline.org). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  • Reznicek, A. A.; Voss, E. G.; Walters, B. S., eds. (February 2011). "Symphyotrichum firmum". Michigan Flora Online. University of Michigan Herbarium. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  • Warners, D.P.; Laughlin, D.C. (1999). "Evidence for a species-level distinction of two co-occurring asters: Aster puniceus L. and Aster firmus Nees" (PDF). Great Lakes Botanist. 38 (2). Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  • Wilhelm, G.; Rericha, L. (2017). Flora of the Chicago Region: A Floristic and Ecological Synthesis. Illustrated by Lowther, M.M. Indianapolis, Indiana: Indiana Academy of Science. ISBN 978-1883362157. OCLC 983207050.


Retrieved from ""