Symphyotrichum greatae

Symphyotrichum greatae (formerly Aster greatae) is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae endemic to California and known by the common name Greata's aster.[4]

Symphyotrichum greatae

Imperiled  (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Tribe: Astereae
Subtribe: Symphyotrichinae
Genus: Symphyotrichum
Subgenus: Symphyotrichum subg. Symphyotrichum
Section: Symphyotrichum sect. Occidentales
Species:
S. greatae
Binomial name
Symphyotrichum greatae
Symphyotrichum greatae range map
South slopes of the San Gabriel Mountains of California[3]
Synonyms[2]

Aster greatae Parish

Description

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Symphyotrichum greatae is a colonizing perennial herb growing from a long rhizome. It produces upright to erect stems usually 50 to 120 centimeters (1+34 to 4 feet) tall. The leaves are mostly oval in shape and pointed, the ones at the base up to 15 centimeters (6 inches) long. The leaves and parts of the stems are hairy.[3]

The inflorescence is an open array of flower heads amidst leaflike bracts. The flower head contains many pale violet to nearly white ray florets and a center of yellow disc florets. The fruit is a hairy cypsela.[3]

 
S. greatae herbarium specimen

Distribution and habitat

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Symphyotrichum greatae is endemic to the San Gabriel Mountains of Southern California, where it grows in damp areas in the canyons of the southern slopes above the Los Angeles Basin.[3]

Conservation

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NatureServe lists it as Imperiled (G2) worldwide.[1]

Citations

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References

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  • Allen, G.A. (2012). "Symphyotrichum greatae". In Jepson Flora Project (ed.). Jepson eFlora. The Jepson Herbarium, University of California, Berkeley. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  • NatureServe (3 June 2022). "Symphyotrichum greatae Greata's Aster". NatureServe Explorer (explorer.natureserve.org). Arlington, Virginia: NatureServe. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  • POWO (2019). "Symphyotrichum greatae (Parish) G.L.Nesom". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  • USDA, NRCS (2014). "​Symphyotrichum greatae​". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
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