Symphyotrichum depauperatum

Starved or Serpentine Aster

Symphyotrichum depauperatum (Fernald) G. L. Nesom is a very rare sepentine soils endemic in southeastern Pennsylvania and adjacent Maryland and disjunct in diabasic soils in a small area of Granville Co., North Carolina (Brouillet et al. 2006, FNA). The species is distinguished by its small heads compared to S. pilosum, which is common in the two areas where the S. depauperatum is native, and has less hairy stems than S. parviceps, which can have small heads and occurs in the northern Ozark Plateau area further west.  The species is diploid 2n=16.

Last updated 29 January 2014 by J.C. Semple

© 2014 J.C. Semple, including all photographs unless otherwise indicated