Biology:Symphyotrichum defoliatum

Short description: Species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae endemic to Southern California

Symphyotrichum defoliatum
Conservation status
Imperiled (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Tribe:	Astereae
Subtribe:	Symphyotrichinae
Genus:	Symphyotrichum
Subgenus:	Symphyotrichum subg. Ascendentes
Species:	S. defoliatum
Binomial name
Symphyotrichum defoliatum (Parish) G.L.Nesom
Endemic range in California outlined in red
Synonyms
Basionym Aster defoliatus Parish Alphabetical list Aster menziesii var. bernardinus Aster bernardinus H.M.Hall (H.M.Hall) Cronquist (H.M.Hall) Jeps. Virgulaster bernardinus Aster deserticola (H.M.Hall) Semple Aster chilensis var. bernardinus J.F.Macbr.

Symphyotrichum defoliatum (formerly Aster bernardinus and Aster defoliatus) is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae known by the common name San Bernardino aster. It is endemic to Southern California where it grows in grasslands and meadows, and it is of conservation concern.

Description

Symphyotrichum defoliatum is a perennial herbaceous plant growing from a long rhizome to a maximum height of 150 centimeters (5 feet). Leaves are widely lance-shaped to oblong and pointed, the largest ones near the base of the stem reaching up to 12 centimeters (4 ³⁄₄ inches) long. The stem and leaves are roughly hairy. The inflorescence is an array of flower heads with 15–40 pale violet ray florets around a center of golden disk florets. The fruit is a hairy cypsela with a long pappus.

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Chromosomes

Symphyotrichum defoliatum is an allopolyploid species likely derived from the backcrossing of S. falcatum (chromosome base number x = 5) with S. ascendens (base number x = 13), its hybrid derivative. The backcrossing produced this species with a unique base number of x = 18 and diploid individuals with 2n = 36.

Distribution and habitat

San Bernardino aster is endemic to Southern California, where it is known only from the San Bernardino and San Gabriel Mountains of the Transverse Ranges, and from part of the Peninsular Ranges to the south. It grows in grassland and meadow habitats and in disturbed areas.

References

• Template:Cite Jepson eFlora
• Flora of North America Editorial Committee, ed. (2006), "Symphyotrichum defoliatum", Flora of North America North of Mexico (FNA), 20, New York and Oxford, http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=250067636, retrieved 15 July 2021 
• "Symphyotrichum defoliatum San Bernardino Aster". Arlington, Virginia. 2 July 2021. https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.150751/Symphyotrichum_defoliatum. 
• POWO (2021). "Symphyotrichum defoliatum (Parish) G.L.Nesom" (in en). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org/taxon/1191110-2. 
• "Symphyotrichum subg. Ascendentes" (in en). Ontario. n.d.. https://uwaterloo.ca/astereae-lab/research/asters/symphyotrichum/symphyotrichum-subg-ascendentes. 
• "Symphyotrichum ascendens — Long-leaved Aster, Intermountain Aster, Western Aster" (in en). Ontario. 14 May 2021. https://uwaterloo.ca/astereae-lab/symphyotrichum-ascendens. 
• "Symphyotrichum defoliatum". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. 2014. https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=SYDE. 

External links

Wikidata ☰ {{{from}}} entry