Symphyotrichum depauperatum
| Symphyotrichum depauperatum | |
|---|---|
 |
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| S. depauperatum from the serpentine grassland demonstration area in Nottingham County Park. | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Compositae |
| Tribe: | Astereae |
| Genus: | Symphyotrichum |
| Species: | S. depauperatum |
| Binomial name | |
| Symphyotrichum depauperatum (Fernald) G.L.Nesom |
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| Synonyms | |
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Aster depauperatus Fernald |
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Symphyotrichum depauperatum, also known as the Serpentine aster, is a rare species of aster adapted to serpentine barrens, an ecosystem with a high concentration of toxic metals in the soil.
Distribution
It occurs in 20 of the 26 serpentine barrens in the eastern United States, and has been called a "flagship" species of this unique ecosystem. It was previously thought to be endemic to these barrens, but it was recently confirmed to also occur in a disjoint population on diabase glades in North Carolina.[2]
Conservation
Symphyotrichum depauperatum is classified by the state of Pennsylvania as a threatened species because its range is restricted to a few limited areas, and the majority of its populations occur on sites threatened by quarrying, housing and industrial development.[3]
References
- ^ "Symphyotrichum depauperatum". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved 2009-11-12.
- ^ Danny J. Gustafson, Roger Earl Latham, "Is the serpentine aster, Symphyotrichum depauperatum (Fern.) Nesom, a valid species and actually endemic to eastern serpentine barrens?", Biodiversity and Conservation, Vol. 14, No. 6 (Jun 2005).
- ^ Serpentine Aster - Pennsylvania Departmentment of Conservation and Natural Resources Wildlife Resource Conservation Fund Profile, Retrieved Sep. 19, 2009.
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