Eurybia spinulosa

Apalachicola Aster

Eurybia spinulosa (Chapman) G. L. Nesom is native to moist to dry, acid sandy peats, savannas in long-leaf pinelands and is fire-maintained in a small area of the Apalachicola River drainage in Panhandle Florida.  It is of conservation concern.  The species is distinguished by its racemiform array of heads with spinulose phyllaries and violet rays.  It flowers from May to July.  The species is tetraploid (2n=36).

The only live plant I saw was sent to me in 1984 by the late Bob Godfrey, who told me he only encountered it because a fire had opened up an area of swampy pine woods stimulating flowering.   I had it under cultivation briefly in Waterloo, Ontario.