Symphyotrichum plumosum
in J. C. Semple et al., Cult. Native Asters Ontario, 134. 2002.
Perennials, 40–100 cm, cespitose, eglandular; with cormoid, woody caudices. Stems 5–10+, erect or arching (light to dark-brown), proximally sparsely to moderately finely woolly-pilose (hairs spreading to ascending), more densely so distally. Leaves (grayish) soft; basal withering by flowering, sessile, blades (1–3-nerved) elliptic-lanceolate, 20–40 × 10–20 mm, bases attenuate, margins usually entire, rarely remotely serrate, piloso-ciliate, apices acute to obtuse, faces silvery piloso-silky; proximal cauline withering by flowering, sessile, blades oblanceolate, 20–30 × 4–8 mm, bases rounded, subclasping, margins entire, scabrous to silky-piloso-ciliate, apices acute to obtuse, cuspidate-mucronate, faces moderately strigillose; distal sessile, blades lanceolate to narrowly ovate, 8–15 × 2.5–5 mm, reduced distally, bases cuneate, margins entire, apices acute, mucronate, faces moderately, finely lanoso-strigose. Heads radiate, in narrow, paniculiform (wand-shaped) to sometimes compact, racemiform arrays (1 (–3) per branch). Peduncles densely hairy, bracts linear, grading into phyllaries. Involucres campanulate, 7–9 mm. Phyllaries in 3–4 series, spreading to reflexed, linear, unequal, bases (tan) ± indurate, margins scarious proximally, green distally, green zones foliaceous, apices acute, faces moderately woolly-strigose. Ray-florets 7–12; corollas rose-purple, laminae 6–9 × 1–2 mm. Disc-florets 14–20; corollas pink turning purple, 5–6 mm, tubes shorter than narrowly funnelform throats (thinly puberulent), lobes triangular, 0.3–0.5 mm. Cypselae fusiform-obovoid, not compressed, 2–3 mm, 6–8-nerved, faces densely strigose; pappi tan to yellowish tan, (5.5–) 6.5–8 mm. 2n = 8.
Phenology: Flowering Oct–Nov.
Habitat: Deep, dry to moist, sandy soils, pine flatwoods, pine-scrub oak woods, favored by fires and clearcuts
Elevation: 0–40 m
Discussion
Symphyotrichum plumosum is known only from Franklin County. It differs from S. concolor var. concolor in its long-acuminate, recurved to reflexed phyllaries. No intermediates with S. concolor were seen in the field.
Selected References
None.