Eurybia mirabilis

Bouquet Aster

Eurybia mirabilis (Torr. & A. Gray) G.L. Nesom is native usually on basic or circumneutral soils on slopes or alluvial plains in deciduous and mixed deciduous woods of the Piedmont in North and South Carolina (Brouillet 2006 FNA).  The species is distinguished from similar species in the genus by its 46–75(–90) oblong-lanceolate squarrose phyllaries, (7–)16–20(–30) white or lavender ray florets, and 20–40 disc florets.  The species is diploid (2n=18).  It might be confused with E. jonesiae; ranges of the two species are non overlapping.

Eurybia mirabilis is infrequent throughout its range.  Reports of the species from Alabama and Georgia may be based on specimens of E. jonesiae (Brouillet 2006 FNA).

Mike Creel is thanked for the use of his photographs of E. mirabilis.