Symphyotrichum_depauperatum

<i>Symphyotrichum depauperatum</i>

Symphyotrichum depauperatum

Species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae endemic to the United States

Symphyotrichum depauperatum (formerly Aster depauperatus), commonly known as serpentine aster or starved aster,[4][5] 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, and on some diabase glades in North Carolina. It grows to 50 centimeters (1+3⁄4 feet) and has white ray florets surrounding a center of yellow disk florets.

Quick Facts Symphyotrichum depauperatum, Conservation status ...

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.[4]

  • A plant in flower
  • Flowers
  • Growth habit

Taxonomy

Within the genus Symphyotrichum, S. depauperatum has been classified in subgenus Symphyotrichum section Symphyotrichum subsection Porteriani.[6] Its full name with author citation is Symphyotrichum depauperatum (Fernald) G.L.Nesom.[3] It was first described by American botanist Merritt Lyndon Fernald in 1908 as Aster depauperatus.[7]

Distribution and habitat

A stream in a serpentine barren in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

S. depauperatum is adapted to serpentine barrens, an ecosystem with a high concentration of toxic metals in the soil. It has been found in Baltimore[2] and Cecil Counties, Maryland;[1] Granville County, North Carolina;[2] and, Chester, Delaware, and Lancaster Counties, Pennsylvania.[1]

Serpentine aster has been called a "flagship species" of the unique serpentine ecosystem and was once thought to be endemic to these barrens,[8] but it also has been found to occur in a disjoint population on diabase glades in Granville County, North Carolina.[9]

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.[10]

As of August 2022, NatureServe listed it as Globally Imperiled (G2); Critically Imperiled (S1) in Maryland and North Carolina; and, Imperiled (S2) in Pennsylvania. NatureServe's most recent review of S. depauperatum's global status was 3 October 1997.[1]

Citations

  1. [1]
    NatureServe (2022).
  2. [2]
    Gustafson & Latham (2005), p. 1447.
  3. [3]
    POWO (2021).
  4. [4]
    Brouillet et al. (2006).
  5. [5]
    USDA, NRCS (2014).
  6. [6]
    Nesom (1994), p. 270.
  7. [7]
    IPNI (2021).
  8. [8]
    Gustafson & Latham (2005), p. 1445.
  9. [9]
    Gustafson & Latham (2005), pp. 1449–1450.
  10. [10]
    Pennsylvania DCNR (n.d.).

References

Information about Symphyotrichum depauperatum also can be seen at the following pages:
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