Symphyotrichum depauperatum | Astereae Lab

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).

Symphyotrichum depauperatum, serpentine soil habitat, 7681, Chester Co., PA

Symphyotrichum depauperatum, habit of fruiting plant, 7681, Chester Co PA

Symphyotrichum depauperatum, habita 11607, Granville Co., NC

Symphyotrichum depauperatum, shoot, 11607, NC

Symphyotrichum depauperatum, lower stem and lateral rosettes, 11607, NC

Symphyotrichum depauperatum, heads, 11607, NC

1-6. Symphyotrichum depauperatum. 1. Habitat, Semple & Chmielewski 7681, Chester Co., Pennsylvania. 2. Habit of fruiting plant, S & Ch 7681. 3-6. Semple 11607, Granville Co, North Carolina. 3. Habitat. 4. Flowering shoots. 5. Lower stem and lateral rosettes. 6. Heads.

Last updated 2 April 2025 by J.C. Semple