Contains 28 accepted taxa overall.
Characteristics
Classification
Citation
SYMPHYOTRICHUM Nees von Esenbeck, Gen. Sp. Aster. 9, 135. 1832.
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TYPE: Symphyotrichum unctuosum Nees von Esenbeck
Species
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Herbarium Specimens | Status | Photos |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Symphyotrichum adnatum | SCALELEAF ASTER | Native FACW (NWPL) | ||
| Symphyotrichum bahamense | BAHAMAN ASTER | Native OBL (NWPL) OBL (DEP) | ||
| Symphyotrichum carolinianum | CLIMBING ASTER | Native OBL (NWPL) OBL (DEP) | ||
| Symphyotrichum chapmanii | SAVANNAH ASTER | Native OBL (NWPL) FACW (DEP) | ||
| Symphyotrichum concolor | EASTERN SILVER ASTER | Native | ||
| Symphyotrichum dumosum | RICE BUTTON ASTER | Native FAC (NWPL) FAC (DEP) | ||
| Symphyotrichum elliottii | ELLIOTT'S ASTER | Native OBL (NWPL) T (WAP) OBL (DEP) | ||
| Symphyotrichum expansum | SOUTHWESTERN ANNUAL SALTMARSH ASTER | Native OBL (NWPL) | ||
| Symphyotrichum fontinale | FLORIDA WATER ASTER | Native | ||
| Symphyotrichum georgianum | GEORGIA ASTER | Native | ||
| Symphyotrichum laeve var. concinnum | SMOOTH BLUE ASTER | Native UPL (NWPL) | ||
| Symphyotrichum lanceolatum var. latifolium | WHITE PANICLE ASTER | Native FACW (NWPL) | ||
| Symphyotrichum lateriflorum | CALICO ASTER | Native FAC (NWPL) FACW (DEP) | ||
| Symphyotrichum oolentangiense | SKYBLUE ASTER | Not Native | ||
| Symphyotrichum patens | LATE PURPLE ASTER | Native | ||
| Symphyotrichum pilosum | WHITE OLDFIELD ASTER | Native FAC (NWPL) | ||
| Symphyotrichum plumosum | Native | |||
| Symphyotrichum praealtum | WILLOWLEAF ASTER | Native FACW (NWPL) | ||
| Symphyotrichum racemosum | SMOOTH WHITE OLDFIELD ASTER | Native FACW (NWPL) | ||
| Symphyotrichum sericeum var. microphyllum | WESTERN SILVER ASTER | Native | ||
| Symphyotrichum shortii | SHORT'S ASTER | Native | ||
| Symphyotrichum simmondsii | SIMMONDS' ASTER | Native FAC (NWPL) | ||
| Symphyotrichum squamatum | SOUTHEASTERN ANNUAL SALTMARSH ASTER | Not Native OBL (NWPL) | ||
| Symphyotrichum subulatum | ANNUAL SALTMARSH ASTER | Native OBL (NWPL) OBL (DEP) | ||
| Symphyotrichum tenuifolium | PERENNIAL SALTMARSH ASTER | Native OBL (NWPL) OBL (DEP) | ||
| Symphyotrichum undulatum | WAVYLEAF ASTER | Native | ||
| Symphyotrichum urophyllum | WHITE ARROWLEAF ASTER | Native | ||
| Symphyotrichum walteri | WALTER'S ASTER | Native FAC (NWPL) |
Identification Key
1. Annuals with a fibrous-rooted taproot; ray or pistillate florest in 1-5 series
2
1. Perennials, with rhizomes or hardened rootstock; ray florets in 1 series
5
2. Ray laminae pink to lavender, drying in 2-3(4) coils; disc florets 11-23; pappus (3.2)3.6-5 mm long
2. Ray laminae usually white (rarely pink or lavender), curling or drying in 1 coil; disc florets (3)4-15; pappus 3.5-5.5 mm long
3
3. Phyllaries 30-42; ray laminae longer than pappi; pappus 3.5-3.8(4.2) mm long
3. Phyllaries 18-30; ray laminae shorter than to subequal to pappi; pappus 3.5-5.5 mm long
4
4. Green zones of phyllaries nearly absent from proximal portion; ray florets in (2)3 series; diploid
4. Green zones of phyllaries extending throughout the phyllary length; ray florets in 2 series; tetraploid
5. Stems densely covered in scabrous, stiff scale-like leaves, these <1 cm long (basal-most leaves larger)
6
5. Stems not densely covered in scale-like leaves, most cauline leaves >1 cm long, not scale-like or not scabrous or not stiffened
7
6. Plant scabridulous; cauline leaves appressed, distal ones adnate to stem for 1/2 or more of their length
6. Plant glabrate; cauline leaves spreading, clasping
7. Basal leaves linear, entire, to 15-30 cm long, 25-70 times longer than wide, cauline leaves highly reduced
7. Basal leaves not linear, entire or toothed
8
8. Rootstock corm-like, globose to elongate; leaves and phyllaries silvery, silky-pilose or usually at least some hispid-pilose
8
8. Rootstock not corm-like; leaves and phyllaries green, glabrous to pubescent
12
9. Stems ± branched; distal leaves 10–30 × 4–8 mm; arrays open, paniculiform; outer phyllaries ± foliaceous (at least distally); ray florets 13–36; disc florets 15–48; cypselae glabrous
9. Stems simple; distal leaves 8–15 × 1.8–5 mm; arrays narrow (wand-shaped), paniculiform, sometimes racemiform; outer phyllaries not foliaceous; ray florets 7–12; disc florets 9–21; cypselae densely strigose
10
10. Leaf faces sparsely to moderately finely woolly-pilose, denser distally; involucres 7–9 mm; phyllaries spreading to reflexed
10. Leaf faces glabrous or densely canescent distally; involucres 5–7 mm; phyllaries appressed
11
11. Distal cauline leaves and phyllaries moderately to densely silky; e United States
11. Distal cauline leaves and phyllaries glabrous or sparsely hispido-pilose; panhandle Florida
12. Stem base 5-15 mm wide; cauline leaves 2-5 cm wide, the base often sheath-like and persistent on older parts; involucre 8-15 mm wide
12. Stem base 1-3 mm wide; cauline leaves 0.1-2.5 cm wide, the base not sheath-like, sometimes clasping; involucre 4-10 mm wide
13
13. Leaf bases truncate to cuneate, sometimes partly sheathing, not clasping at the base
14
13. Leaf bases cordate- or auriculate-clasping
23
14. Stems densely pilose or hirsute, rarely glabrate
14. Stems glabrous to scabrous or sparsely pubescent
15
15. Plant subsucculent, of brackish areas; stems with few leaves
16
15. Plant not succulent, of freshwater areas; stems leafy
17
16. Rhizomes short; stems 1–many; mid-cauline leaves (1)1.5-2.7 mm wide; involucres 4.1-5.3 mm long; ray florets 10-16; disc florets (10)13-23, corollas 3.4-4.6 mm long; cypselae 1.5-2(2.5) mm long; pappi 3-4.4 mm long
16. Rhizomes long; stems 1; mid-cauline leaves (1.5)3-6 mm wide; involucres 6-9.5(11) mm long; ray florets (12)17-25; disc florets 25-45(54), corollas (4)4.7-6(6.5) mm long; cypselae 2.8-4(4.5) mm long; pappi 5-6.1 mm long
17. Leaves subtending peduncles 2-7 mm long, 1-2 mm wide, peduncles often copiously bracteate, with 5-15 bracts; heads rather small
18
17. Leaves subtending peduncles 10-80 mm long, 1-30 mm wide, peduncles usually with few bracts; heads rather larger
20
18. Ray corollas white, rarely pinkish, the laminae 0.5-1.2 mm wide; pappus 2.5-3.5 mm long; cypselae 1-1.8 mm long, faintly 4-5-nerved
18. Ray corollas pinkish, bluish, to white, the laminae 1-1.7 mm wide; pappus 3-4.5 mm long; cypselae 1.5-2.5 mm long, prominently 3-4-nerved
19
19. Middle and distal leaves mostly spreading to descending
19. Middle to distal leaves strongly ascending
20. Stems usually ascending to erect, sometimes arching; disc corollas whitish to cream, lobes strongly reflexed, lanceolate, 0.9–1.7 mm long (lengths 1/2–3/4 of corollas)
20. Stems erect; disc florets white to yellow, lobes sometimes spreading, triangular, 0.4–1.3 mm long (lengths to 1/2 of corollas)
21
21. Leaves thin, margins flat; peduncle bracts 5–13; phyllaries linear-lanceolate, subequal to unequal, outer often foliaceous
21. Leaves firm, margins often recurved; peduncle bracts 1–3(5); phyllaries oblong-lanceolate, unequal, outer sometimes foliaceous
22
22. Cauline leaves sharply reduced on array branches, adaxial faces not waxy, abaxial with indistinct, elongate areoles (axillary clusters absent); peduncle bracts reduced, grading into phyllaries; disc corollas yellow turning reddish; cypselae 2–2.6 mm
22. Cauline leaves progressively reduced distally, adaxial faces waxy, abaxial with well-marked, isodiametric areoles (axillary clusters often present); peduncle bracts foliaceous, distal closely subtending heads, not grading into phyllaries; disc corollas cream to pale yellow turning pinkish; cypselae 1.5–2 mm
23. Proximal leaves sessile to subsessile, the blade base clasping; stems pubescent
24
23. Proximal leaves winged-petiolate, the petiole base clasping (middle and distal sometimes sessile); stems glabrous to pubescent
26
24. Phyllaries (stems, leaves) stipitate-glandular; leaf margins revolute, sometimes undulate; ray laminae 14–24 mm long, 1.5–3.5 mm wide
24. Phyllaries eglandular (if stipitate-glandular, then leaf margins flat, not undulate, ray laminae 10–18(20) mm long, 1–3 mm wide)
25
25. Proximal cauline leaf bases not constricted proximally; distal leaf blades lanceolate or oblanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, bases cuneate to rounded, subclasping, apices acute or acuminate, subspinulose; involucres 6–7.6 mm; cypselae sparsely strigillose to glabrate
25. Proximal cauline leaf bases broadened proximal to constriction; distal leaf blades narrowly to broadly ovate, bases strongly cordate-clasping to auriculate-amplexicaul, apices usually acute, sometimes obtuse, mucronate to white-spinulose; involucres 5.5–12 mm; cypselae sericeous or strigillose
26. Ray florets white to pale pink
26. Ray florets usually pale to dark blue or purple, rarely white
27
27. Proximal cauline leaves winged-petiolate, wings wider distally and leaves sessile, the wings abruptly widening at the strongly auriculate-clasping petiolar bases
27. Cauline leaves narrowly winged-petiolate, the wings not widening at the clasping petiolar bases
28
28. Basal leaf bases usually deeply cordate, sometimes rounded or abruptly attenuate, proximal cauline bases cordate, rounded, or truncate, sometimes cuneate
28. Basal leaf bases shallowly cordate or rounded to attenuate, proximal cauline bases rounded to attenuate
29
29. Leaf faces scabrous, adaxially strongly strigose, abaxially strigose topiloso-strigose or hirsute
29. Leaf faces glabrous
Genus Synonyms
| Synonym | Full Citation | Basionym | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aglotoma | Aglotoma Rafinesque, Fl. Tellur. 2: 44. 1837 ("1836"). | TYPE: Aster multiflorus Solander | |
| Ampelaster | Ampelaster G. L. Nesom, Phytologia 77: 250. 1994. | TYPE: Ampelaster carolinianus (Walter) G. L. Nesom (Aster carolinianus Walter) | |
| Brachyactis | Brachyactis Ledebour, Fl. Ross. 2: 495. 1845. | TYPE: Brachyactis ciliata (Ledebour) Ledebour (Erigeron ciliatus Ledebour) | |
| Conyzanthus | Conyzanthus Tamamschjan, in Komarov, Fl. USSR 25: 583. 1959. | TYPE: Conyzanthus graminifolius (Sprengel) Tamamschjan (Conyza graminifolia Sprengel) | |
| Fimbristima | Fimbristima Rafinesque, Fl. Tellur. 2: 46. 1837 ("1836"). | TYPE: Conyza squamata Sprengel Lectotypified by G. L. Nesom, Phytologia 77: 271. 1994. | |
| Lasallea | Lasallea Greene, Leafl. Bot. Observ. Crit. 1: 5. 1903, non Lasallia Merat de Vaumartoise 1826. | TYPE: Lasallea sericea (Ventenat) Greene (Aster sericeus Ventenat) | |
| Mesoligus | Mesoligus Rafinesque, Fl. Tellur. 2: 44. 1837 ("1836"). | TYPE: Mesoligus subulatus (Michaux) Rafinesque (Aster subulatus Michaux) | |
| Venatris | Venatris Rafinesque, Fl. Tellur. 2: 47. 1837 ("1836"). | TYPE: Venatris falcata Rafinesque Lectotypified by G. L. Nesom, Phytologia 77: 296. 1994. | |
| Virgulaster | Virgulaster Semple, Phytologia 58: 430. 1985. | TYPE: Virgulaster ascendens (Lindley) Semple (Aster ascendens Lindley) | |
| Virgulus | Virgulus Rafinesque, Fl. Tellur. 2: 46. 1837 ("1836"). | TYPE: Virgulus concolor (Linnaeus) Reveal & Keener (Aster concolor Linnaeus) |