Eurybia surculosa

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Creeping Aster
Line drawing of the capitula, pappi and leaves from Briton & Brown's Illustrated flora of the northern states and Canada
Line drawing of the capitula, pappi and leaves from Briton & Brown's Illustrated flora of the northern states and Canada
Conservation status

Apparently Secure (TNC)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Tribe: Astereae
Genus: Eurybia
Species: E. surculosa
Binomial name
Eurybia surculosa
(Michx.) G.L.Nesom

Eurybia surculosa, commonly known as the Creeping Aster, is an herbaceous perennial in the composite family that was previously treated in the genus Aster. It is native to the eastern United States where it is found primarily in sandy soils along the coastal plain, though when E. compacta is also present, it exists farther inland in the southern Appalachian mountains. Although the species is not seriously thereatned, it is locally endangered in Virginia and Alabama. The flowers, which have bluish violet ray florets and pale yellow disc florets that eventually turn purplish, emerge in summer and persist into the fall.

[edit] Distribution and Habitat

E. surculosa in native to the eastern United States where is occurs both along the costal plain, especially in the north of its range, as well as in the southern Appalachians. It tends not to coexist with E. compacta, and where this plant occurs, E. surculosa is usually confined to inland areas and the mountains. There is a disjunct population in Massachusetts and Connecticut in the north, and then a continuous range from Delaware and Maryland south through Virginia and the Carolinas to Georgia. To the west it is present in Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky and Ohio, though it is absent in West Virginia It typically grows at elevations of 200 to 1500 metres in both dry and wet sandy soils. Its habitats include open areas, pinelands, oak scrub , clearings, bogs, as well as along roadsides.[2]

[edit] References

  1. ^ NatureServe, “Eurybia surculosa”, NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life, Version 6.1., Arlington, Virginia 
  2. ^ Brouillet, Luc (2006), “Eurybia surculosa”, in Flora of North America Editorial Committee, eds. 1993+, Flora of North America, vol. 20, New York & Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 377