Carphephorus odoratissimus

(J. F. Gmelin) H. J.-C. Hebert

Rhodora 70: 483. 1968.

Common names: Vanillaleaf
Endemic
Basionym: Chrysocoma odoratissima J. F. Gmelin Syst. Nat. 2: 1204. 1792
Synonyms: Liatris odoratissima (J. F. Gmelin) Michaux Trilisa odoratissima (J. F. Gmelin) Cassini
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 21. Treatment on page 536.

Plants 50–140 (–180) cm. Stems glabrous. Leaves: basal oblanceolate to obovate, mostly 9–50 cm; proximal cauline well developed, gradually reduced distally, clasping, faces not glanddotted. Heads in flat-topped, corymbiform arrays. Peduncles glabrous. Involucres 3.5–5 mm. Phyllaries 5–12 in 1–2 (–3) series, oblanceolate, glanddotted, apices obtuse. Receptacles epaleate or partially paleate (paleae 1–2). Corollas glandular, lobes 0.8–1 mm. Cypselae glandular; pappus bristles in ± 1 series.

Distribution

V21-1361-distribution-map.gif

Ala., Fla., Ga., La., Miss., N.C., S.C.

Discussion

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Key

1 Plants with strong odor of coumarin or vanilla; basal leaves usually more than 15 × 5 cm; midstem leaves broadly elliptic, margins often shallowly dentate, apices flared away from stems; primary head-bearing branches diverging from main axes at 10–20°; florets mostly 7–10 Carphephorus odoratissimus var. odoratissimus
1 Plants with slight or no odor of coumarin or vanilla; basal leaves less than 15 × 4 cm; midstem leaves narrowly elliptic, margins entire, apices appressed to stems; primary head-bearing branches diverging from main axes at 30–45°; florets mostly 10–14 Carphephorus odoratissimus var. subtropicanus

"fine" is not a number.

not tailed +, truncate +, rounded +  and obtuse +
scarious +
usually ovate +  and lanceolate +
usually terete +  and clavate +
indeterminate +  and determinate +
flat-topped +
Guy L. Nesom +
(J. F. Gmelin) H. J.-C. Hebert +
oblanceolate;obovate +
9 cm90 mm <br />0.09 m <br /> (50 cm500 mm <br />0.5 m <br />) +
decurrent +
not enlarged +
Chrysocoma odoratissima +
dissected +, lobed +, toothed +  and entire +
linear;oblanceolate or spatulate +
papillate +  and rugose +
(4-)5-angled;10-ribbed +
linear-clavate +
Vanillaleaf +
blue +, usually lavender +  and dark magenta or pinkish purple +
hispid-strigose +
scabrellous +
prismatic +
fertile +  and bisexual +
Ala. +, Fla. +, Ga. +, La. +, Miss. +, N.C. +  and S.C. +
hairy +  and glabrous +
pistillate +, staminate +  and neuter +
winged +  and beaked +
dispersed +
in usually determinate , rarely indeterminate , arrays +  and singly +
indeterminate +
each +  and sessile +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (1.2 cm12 mm <br />0.012 m <br />) +
campanulate;hemispheric +
0.35 cm3.5 mm <br />0.0035 m <br /> (0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br />) +
sessile +  and petiolate +
cauline +  and proximal +
reduced +
lanceolate +  and lance-linear +
dentate +  and entire +
2-carpellate +
barbellulate +  and barbellate +
persistent +
5 +  and 12 +
paleate +  and epaleate +
bearing subulate enations +, hairy +  and bristly +
exalbuminous +
not branched +
appendaged +  and truncate +
hirsutulous +
papillate +
Liatris odoratissima +  and Trilisa odoratissima +
Carphephorus odoratissimus +
Carphephorus +
species +
20 cm200 mm <br />0.2 m <br /> (60 cm600 mm <br />0.6 m <br />) +
140 cm1,400 mm <br />1.4 m <br /> (180 cm1,800 mm <br />1.8 m <br />) +