Symphyotrichum depauperatum

Symphyotrichum depauperatum (formerly Aster depauperatus), commonly known as serpentine 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.

Symphyotrichum depauperatum
S. depauperatum from the serpentine grassland demonstration area in Nottingham, Pennsylvania.

Imperiled  (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Tribe: Astereae
Subtribe: Symphyotrichinae
Genus: Symphyotrichum
Subgenus: Symphyotrichum subg. Symphyotrichum
Section: Symphyotrichum sect. Symphyotrichum
Species:
S. depauperatum
Binomial name
Symphyotrichum depauperatum
Endemic distribution[2][1]
Synonyms[3]

Basionym

  • Aster depauperatus Fernald
Alphabetical list
    • Aster ericoides var. depauperatus Porter
    • Aster ericoides var. pusillus A.Gray
    • Aster parviceps var. pusillus Fernald
    • Aster pilosus var. pusillus (A.Gray) A.G.Jones

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]

Distribution and habitat

Symphyotrichum 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, but it also has been found to occur in a disjoint population on diabase glades in Granville County, North Carolina.[6]

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.[7]

As of July 2021, 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. NatureServe 2021.
  2. Gustafson & Latham 2005, p. 1447.
  3. POWO 2019.
  4. Brouillet et al. 2006.
  5. USDA, NRCS 2014.
  6. Gustafson & Latham 2005.
  7. Pennsylvania DCNR n.d.

References
  • Brouillet, L.; Semple, J.C.; Allen, G.A.; Chambers, K.L.; Sundberg, S.D. (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?" (PDF). Biodiversity and Conservation. 14 (6). doi:10.1007/s10531-004-9670-x. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 September 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2021 – via ResearchGate (free).
  • 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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