Symphyotrichum subulatum

(Michaux) G. L. Nesom

Phytologia 77: 293. 1995.

Common names: Annual saltmarsh or eastern annual saltmarsh aster aster subulé
Basionym: Aster subulatus Michaux Fl. Bor.-Amer. 2: 111. 1803
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 20. Treatment on page 480. Mentioned on page 467, 481.
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Annuals, (10–) 30–150 cm; taprooted. Stems 1, erect (often with purple or purplish brown areas), glabrous or glabrate, sometimes strigillose in leaf-axils. Leaves thin (green to dark green), margins often strigilloso-ciliolate, faces glabrous; basal withering by flowering, long-petiolate (petiole bases sheathing), sparsely ciliate, blades ovate to oblanceolate, 10–90 × 6–14 mm, bases attenuate to cuneate, rounded, margins entire or serrulate or crenulate, apices rounded, obtuse, or acute; proximal cauline withering by flowering, petiolate, subpetiolate, or sessile, blades narrowly lanceolate or subulate, 20–100 (–200) × 1.5–10 (–20) mm, bases attenuate, margins subentire, entire, or serrulate, apices acute to acuminate; distal sessile, blades narrowly lanceolate to subulate, 5–113 × 0.5–5.5 mm, apices acuminate. Heads (10–) 30–100 (–150), in open, diffuse, paniculiform arrays. Peduncles (0.2–) 0.5–4 cm, bracts 4–8 (–17). Involucres cylindric to turbinate, 5–7 (–8.2) mm. Phyllaries in 3–5 series, broadly or narrowly lanceolate to subulate, unequal, bases indurate, margins hyaline, often purple-tinged, entire, green zones lanceolate (usually narrow, sometimes broad and covering most of distal portion), apices acute, faces glabrous. Ray-florets 16–30 (–54) in 1–3 series; corollas white, pink, or lavender, laminae 1.3–7 × 0.2–1.3 mm. Disc-florets 4–10 (–13); corollas yello, sometimes tinged with purple, 3.4–5.2 mm, throats narrowly funnelform, lobes ± spreading to erect, narrowly triangular, 0.3–0.7 mm, glabrous. Cypselae light-brown to purple, narrowly obovoid to fusiform, sometimes ± compressed, (1.2–) 1.5–2.7 (–3) mm, 5-nerved, faces sparsely strigillose; pappi white, (3–) 3.5–5.5 mm.

Distribution

V20-1081-distribution-map.gif

N.B., Ont., Ala., Ariz., Ark., Calif., Conn., Del., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ind., Kans., La., Maine, Mass., Md., Mich., Miss., N.C., N.H., N.J., N.Mex., N.Y., Nebr., Nev., Ohio, Okla., Pa., R.I., S.C., Tenn., Tex., Utah, Va., Mexico, West Indies, Bermuda, Central America, South America, widely worldwide

Discussion

Varieties 5 (5 in the flora).

Five varieties of Symphyotrichum subulatum are recognized for North America based on differences in chromosome number, ray lamina color and size, array shapes, number of series of ray florets, number of disc and ray florets, and other, more cryptic characters (S. D. Sundberg 2004). These varieties were treated as species by G. L. Nesom (1994b, 2005d). Variety ligulatum is apparently an obligate outcrosser and is the least variable variety (Sundberg). Other varieties are self-compatible, which could facilitate the fixation of mutations in populations.

The five varieties are nearly entirely allopatric, and intermediates between pairs of varieties are not uncommon where they approach one another. Populations that are intermediate in ray lamina size between vars. ligulatum and parviflorum are widespread in southern Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and northern Mexico. Intermediates between vars. elongatum and parviflorum and between vars. elongatum and subulatum occur in Florida. Despite these observations, hybridization experiments and chromosome number differences suggest that the varieties are mostly reproductively isolated (S. D. Sundberg 1986, 2004).

In older floras the name Aster exilis Elliott has been applied to Symphyotrichum subulatum vars. ligulatum and parviflorum. The status of this name is uncertain; the type specimen has been lost and the description of the plant is inadequate for determining the taxon to which the name should be applied (G. L. Nesom 1994b; S. D. Sundberg 2004).

Selected References

None.

Key

1 Ray laminae lavender to blue, (3.5–)4.5–7 × 0.9–1.3 mm, drying in 3–5 coils; ray florets in 1 series; disc florets (20–)33–50 (sc United States) Symphyotrichum subulatum var. ligulatum
1 Ray laminae white to pink or lavender, 1.3–3.5(–4.2) × 0.2–0.6 mm, drying in (0–)1–3(–4) coils; ray florets in 1–3 series; disc florets 3–23 > 2
2 Ray laminae pink to lavender, (2–)2.5–3.5(–4.2) × 0.3–0.6 mm, drying in 2–3(–4) coils; disc florets 11–23 (Florida, West Indies) Symphyotrichum subulatum var. elongatum
2 Ray laminae usually white, rarely pink or lavender, 1.3–3 × 0.2–0.5 mm, drying in 1 coil or curling; disc florets (3–)4–15 > 3
3 Ray laminae longer than pappi; phyllaries 30–42; pappi 3.5–3.8(–4.2) mm; w United States Symphyotrichum subulatum var. parviflorum
3 Ray laminae shorter to slightly longer than pappi; phyllaries 18–30; pappi 3.5–5.5 mm; e and se United States > 4
4 Green zones of phyllaries narrowly to broadly lanceolate, extending phyllary length; ray laminae 0.2–0.5 mm wide; disc florets 3.8–4.6(–4.9) mm; salt marshes, e North America and Gulf Coast Symphyotrichum subulatum var. subulatum
4 Green zones of phyllaries broadly lanceolate, nearly absent from proximal portion; ray laminae 0.2–0.3 mm wide; disc florets 3.2–4.1 mm; adventive, s United States Symphyotrichum subulatum var. squamatum

"thin" is not a number.

... more about "Symphyotrichum subulatum"
not tailed +, rounded +  and obtuse +
distinct +
acute;acuminate;acute;acuminate +
subequal +
scarious +
usually triangular +  and linear +
usually deltate +  and lanceolate +
paniculiform +  and open +
indeterminate +  and determinate +
Luc Brouillet +, John C. Semple +, Geraldine A. Allen +, Kenton L. Chambers +  and Scott D. Sundberg† +
(Michaux) G. L. Nesom +
acute;obtuse;acute;obtuse +
sessile +, subpetiolate +, petiolate +  and long-petiolate +
10 cm100 mm <br />0.1 m <br /> (20 cm200 mm <br />0.2 m <br />) +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br />) +
2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br /> (10 cm100 mm <br />0.1 m <br />) +
subentire +, attenuate +, subulate +, lanceolate +, rounded +  and cuneate +
indurate +
1.5mm;10mm +
Aster subulatus +
sessile +, subpetiolate +, petiolate +  and long-petiolate +
10 cm100 mm <br />0.1 m <br /> (20 cm200 mm <br />0.2 m <br />) +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br />) +
0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br /> (11.3 cm113 mm <br />0.113 m <br />) +
narrowly lanceolate;subulate +
0.05 cm0.5 mm <br />5.0e-4 m <br /> (0.55 cm5.5 mm <br />0.0055 m <br />) +
rugulose +  and muricate +
barbellulate +  and barbellate +
sessile +  and subpetiolate +
Annual saltmarsh or eastern annual saltmarsh aster +  and aster subulé +
not 2-lipped +  and actinomorphic +
tinged with purple +, lavender +, pink +  and white +
at maturity , more or less ampliate , tubes usually shorter +
0.34 cm3.4 mm <br />0.0034 m <br /> (0.52 cm5.2 mm <br />0.0052 m <br />) +
beaked +, 2-ribbed +  and 5-ribbed +
0.27 cm2.7 mm <br />0.0027 m <br /> (0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br />) +
light-brown +  and purple +
glabrate +  and strigillose +
compressed +, narrowly obovoid +  and fusiform +
fertile +  and bisexual +
fertile +  and bisexual +
N.B. +, Ont. +, Ala. +, Ariz. +, Ark. +, Calif. +, Conn. +, Del. +, Fla. +, Ga. +, Ill. +, Ind. +, Kans. +, La. +, Maine +, Mass. +, Md. +, Mich. +, Miss. +, N.C. +, N.H. +, N.J. +, N.Mex. +, N.Y. +, Nebr. +, Nev. +, Ohio +, Okla. +, Pa. +, R.I. +, S.C. +, Tenn. +, Tex. +, Utah +, Va. +, Mexico +, West Indies +, Bermuda +, Central America +, South America +  and widely worldwide +
strigillose +  and glabrous +
pistillate +, staminate +  and neuter +
winged +  and beaked +
dispersed +
disciform +  and radiate +
indeterminate +
heterogamous +  and homogamous +
each +  and sessile +
0.7 cm7 mm <br />0.007 m <br /> (0.82 cm8.2 mm <br />0.0082 m <br />) +
0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br /> (2.2 cm22 mm <br />0.022 m <br />) +
cylindric;turbinate +
0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br /> (0.7 cm7 mm <br />0.007 m <br />) +
0.85 cm8.5 mm <br />0.0085 m <br /> (0.95 cm9.5 mm <br />0.0095 m <br />) +
0.02 cm0.2 mm <br />2.0e-4 m <br /> (0.12 cm1.2 mm <br />0.0012 m <br />) +
1.3mm;7mm +
0.2mm;1.3mm +
sessile +  and petiolate +
cauline +  and basal +
decurrent +
less spreading;erect +
triangular +
sessile +, subpetiolate +, petiolate +  and long-petiolate +
10 cm100 mm <br />0.1 m <br /> (20 cm200 mm <br />0.2 m <br />) +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br />) +
purple-tinged +  and hyaline +
2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br /> (10 cm100 mm <br />0.1 m <br />) +
strigilloso-ciliolate +
subentire +, attenuate +, subulate +, lanceolate +, rounded +  and cuneate +
1.5mm +  and 10mm +
2-carpellate +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (0.35 cm3.5 mm <br />0.0035 m <br />) +
persistent +
25 +  and 40 +
0.35 cm3.5 mm <br />0.0035 m <br /> (0.55 cm5.5 mm <br />0.0055 m <br />) +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br />) +
0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br /> (4 cm40 mm <br />0.04 m <br />) +
lanceolate +  and subulate +
styliferous +, neuter +  and pistillate +
bearing subulate enations +, hairy +  and bristly +
flat;slightly convex +
exalbuminous +
branched +  and simple +
not brittle +
strigillose +, glabrate +  and glabrous +
appendaged +  and truncate +
papillate +  and smooth +
Aster sect. Hesterastrum +, Aster sect. Oxytripolium +, Undefined subg. Conyzanthus +, Symphyotrichum sect. Oxytripolium +  and Tripolium sect. Oxytripolium +
Symphyotrichum subulatum +
Symphyotrichum subg. Astropolium +
species +
at maturity , more or less ampliate , tubes usually shorter +
ampliate +
10 cm100 mm <br />0.1 m <br /> (30 cm300 mm <br />0.3 m <br />) +
30 cm300 mm <br />0.3 m <br /> (150 cm1,500 mm <br />1.5 m <br />) +
tree +, shrub +  and subshrub +
lanceolate +