Symphyotrichum georgianum

(Alexander) G. L. Nesom

Phytologia 77: 282. 1995.

Common names: Georgia aster
EndemicConservation concern
Basionym: Aster georgianus Alexander in J. K. Small, Man. S.E. Fl., 1381, 1509. 1933
Synonyms: Aster patens var. georgianus (Alexander) Cronquist Virgulus georgianus (Alexander) Semple Virgulus patens var. georgianus (Alexander) Reveal & Keener
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 20. Treatment on page 490. Mentioned on page 470, 483, 491.

Perennials, 50–100 cm, colonial; rhizomatous, woody. Stems 1–5+, erect, straight (± stout, light to dark brown), proximally sparsely to moderately short-strigose, distally densely so, stipitate-glandular. Leaves (dark green) thick, firm, margins revolute (sometimes ± undulate), scabrous; basal early deciduous, sessile or subpetiolate, blades spatulate to obovate [size unknown], bases cuneate, margins entire to ± serrate, apices acute, faces finely scabrous; proximal cauline withering by flowering, sessile, blades (adaxially obscurely veined) oblong to lanceolate or narrowly obovate to oblanceolate, proximalmost ± pandurate, 20–70 × 10–20 mm, gradually reduced distally, bases auriculate-clasping, margins entire, finely scabrous, faces finely scabrous, stipitate-glandular; distal sessile, blades lanceolate to oblanceolate, 14–50 × 6–11 mm, reduced distally (much smaller on branches and grading ± abruptly into bracts), bases ± auriculate-clasping to subclasping, margins entire, apices mucronate to white-spinulose, faces scabrous, sometimes sparsely to moderately stipitate-glandular. Heads in narrow, racemiform to ± broad, paniculiform arrays, sometimes borne singly on branches, branches initially patent then ascending, leafy. Peduncles densely short-strigose, ± densely short-stipitate-glandular, bracts 1–8+, spreading to reflexed, linear to narrowly oblong-lanceolate, strigillose, stipitate-glandular, grading into phyllaries. Involucres campanulate to hemispheric, 8–10 mm. Phyllaries in 4–7 series, spatulate-oblong to lanceolate, unequal, innermost linear-lanceolate, bases tan, ± indurate in proximal 1/3–1/2, margins hyaline, not (outer) to narrowly scarious, strigoso- or hispido-ciliate, sometimes also stipitate-glandular (foliaceous apices), green zones lanceolate-spatulate, covering distal 1/2 or less, foliaceous apically, apices acute (outer) to acuminate or ± caudate (inner), spreading or reflexed (longer, inner), often purplish, faces moderately strigillose, stipitate-glandular. Ray florets 12–24; corollas lavender violet to dark reddish purple, laminae 14–24 × 1.5–3.5 mm. Disc florets 20–40; corollas white with purplish lobes, 7–9 mm, throats cylindro-funnelform (sparsely pilose), lobes narrowly triangular, 0.7–1.5 mm (sparsely glandular). Cypselae gray-brown, narrowly obovoid, compressed, 2.5–4 mm, 7–10-nerved, faces sparsely strigose; pappi tan to tawny, 9–11 mm. 2n = 50.


Phenology: Flowering Oct–Nov.
Habitat: Sandy and clay soils, oak-pine woodlands, road embankments (mostly Piedmont)
Elevation: 0–300 m

Distribution

V20-1101-distribution-map.gif

Ala., Fla., Ga., N.C., S.C.

Discussion

Of conservation concern.

Symphyotrichum georgianum is disjunct and rare in southwestern Georgia and Leon County, Florida.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Symphyotrichum georgianum"
Luc Brouillet +, John C. Semple +, Geraldine A. Allen +, Kenton L. Chambers +  and Scott D. Sundberg† +
(Alexander) G. L. Nesom +
Aster georgianus +
Georgia aster +
Ala. +, Fla. +, Ga. +, N.C. +  and S.C. +
0–300 m +
Sandy and clay soils, oak-pine woodlands, road embankments (mostly Piedmont) +
Flowering Oct–Nov. +
Endemic +  and Conservation concern +
Aster patens var. georgianus +, Virgulus georgianus +  and Virgulus patens var. georgianus +
Symphyotrichum georgianum +
Symphyotrichum subg. Virgulus +
species +