Symphyotrichum subulatum (formerly Aster subulatus), commonly known as eastern annual saltmarsh aster or, in Britain and Ireland where it is naturalized, annual saltmarsh aster, is an annual plant in the family Asteraceae native to the eastern United States and the Gulf Coast to Texas. The species grows primarily in coastal salt marshes, although in the Ozarks it occurs as a non-marine weedy variety.
Quick Facts Conservation status, Scientific classification ...
| Symphyotrichum subulatum |
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| Symphyotrichum subulatum var. subulatum |
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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. Astropolium |
| Species: |
S. subulatum |
| Binomial name |
Symphyotrichum subulatum
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| Varieties |
- S. subulatum var. subulatum
- S. subulatum var. elongatum (Boss. ex A.G.Jones & Lowry) S.D.Sundb.
- S. subulatum var. squamatum (Spreng.) S.D.Sundb.
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| Combined native distribution |
| Synonyms |
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Basionym
Synonyms of varieties
- Aster exilis var. australis A.Gray
- Aster exilis f. subalpinus R.E.Fr.
- Aster flexicaulis Raf.
- Aster linifolius Torr. & A.Gray
- Aster subulatus var. australis (A.Gray) Shinners
- Aster subulatus var. euroauster Fernald & Griscom
- Aster subulatus var. obtusifolius Fernald
- Chrysocoma linifolia Steud.
- Erigeron linifolius Bertero ex DC.
- Mesoligus subulatus Raf.
- Tripolium subulatum Nees
- Aster bahamensis Britton
- Aster subulatus var. elongatus Boss. ex A.G.Jones & Lowry
- Symphyotrichum bahamense (Britton) G.L.Nesom
- Aster asteroides Rusby
- Aster bangii Rusby
- Aster barcinonensis Sennen
- Aster moelleri Reiche
- Aster pseudobarcincnensis Sennen
- Aster sandwicensis (A.Gray ex H.Mann) Hieron.
- Aster squamatus (Spreng.) Hieron.
- Aster squamatus var. tripolioides (Phil.) Hieron.
- Aster subtropicus Morong
- Aster subulatus var. sandwicensis (A.Gray ex H.Mann) A.G.Jones
- Baccharis asteroides Colla
- Carphephorus junceus Durand
- Conyza berteroana Phil.
- Conyza squamata Spreng.
- Conyzanthus squamatus (Spreng.) Tamamsch.
- Erigeron depilis Phil.
- Erigeron semiamplexicaulis Meyen
- Erigeron tripolioides Phil.
- Symphyotrichum squamatum (Spreng.) G.L.Nesom
- Tripolium conspicuum Lindl. ex DC.
- Tripolium imbricatum Nutt.
- Tripolium moelleri Phil.
- Tripolium oliganthum Phil.
- Tripolium subulatum var. brasilianum DC.
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Close
Symphyotrichum subulatum is an annual forb that possesses a single erect stem that can reach up to 1 meter (3 feet 3 inches) in height. The stem, along with its thin green to dark green leaves, are both hairless. The sheathing base-blades of the leaves are ovulate, and the margins are entire.
The top of the stem extends into a raceme inflorescence. The heads open up into bright yellow disc florets that are surrounded by ray florets that vary in color from white to lavender.
The species' full scientific name is Symphyotrichum subulatum (Michx.) G.L.Nesom. As of December 2021[update], three varieties of S. subulatum were accepted by Plants of the World Online (POWO), with S. subulatum var. subulatum as the autonym:
- S. subulatum var. subulatum
- S. subulatum var. elongatum (Boss. ex A.G.Jones & Lowry) S.D.Sundb.
- S. subulatum var. squamatum (Spreng.) S.D.Sundb.
The varieties S. subulatum var. ligulatum (Shinners) S.D.Sundb. and S. s. var. parviflorum (Nees) S.D.Sundb., as of December 2021[update], are accepted at the species level by POWO as Symphyotrichum divaricatum (Nutt.) G.L.Nesom and Symphyotrichum expansum (Poepp. ex Spreng.) G.L.Nesom, respectively. As of December 2021[update], S. s. var. parviflorum (Nees) S.D.Sundb. is accepted at the species level by Catalogue of Life (COL) as Symphyotrichum parviflorum.
Distribution and habitat
Symphyotrichum subulatum is a terrestrial species that will typically grow among grasses of any kind. It is found in salt marshes, pond margins, sloughs, swamps, crop field margins, lawns, and roadsides. It is thought to be especially prevalent in these areas because of a tolerance to saline soils and mowing. It is native to the eastern and Gulf Coast areas of the United States. It is also common across Mexico, the West Indies, Bermuda, Central America, and South America, depending on variety.
According to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, eastern annual saltmarsh aster can be planted to attract butterflies and has value for native bees.
- Brouillet, L.; Semple, J.C.; Allen, G.A.; Chambers, K.L.; Sundberg, S.D. (2006). "Symphyotrichum subulatum". In Flora of North America Editorial Committee (ed.). Flora of North America North of Mexico (FNA). Vol. 20. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press. Retrieved 7 July 2021 – via eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
- BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
- Gleason, H.; Cronquist, A. (1991). Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. Bronx, New York: New York Botanical Garden. p. 590. ISBN 0-89327-365-1.
- Hassler, M. (8 December 2021). "Symphyotrichum parviflorum (Nees) Greuter – World Plants: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World". In Bánki, O.; Roskov, Y.; Döring, M.; Ower, G.; Vandepitte, L.; Remsen, D.; Hobern, D.; Schalk, P.; DeWalt, R.E.; Keping, M.; Miller, J.; Orrell, T.; Aalbu, R.; Adlard, R.; Adriaenssens, E.; Aedo, C.; Aescht, E.; Akkari, N.; Alonso-Zarazaga, M.A.; et al. (eds.). Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life, 18 December 2021. Leiden, Netherlands: Naturalis Biodiversity Center. ISSN 2405-8858. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
- Maiz-Tome, L. (2016). "Aster subulatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Gland, Switzerland: International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T19035773A78457022.en. ISSN 2307-8235. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
- Missouri Native Plant Society (19 November 2018). "Symphyotrichum subulatum (Michx.) G.L.Nesom — Inland Saltmarsh Aster". Retrieved 17 July 2021.
- NatureServe (2 July 2021). "Symphyotrichum subulatum Annual Saltmarsh Aster". NatureServe Explorer (explorer.natureserve.org). Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
- POWO (2021a). "Symphyotrichum subulatum (Michx.) G.L.Nesom". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
- POWO (2021b). "Symphyotrichum divaricatum (Nutt.) G.L.Nesom". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
- POWO (2021c). "Symphyotrichum expansum (Poepp. ex Spreng.) G.L.Nesom". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
- POWO (2021d). "Symphyotrichum subulatum var. subulatum". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
- POWO (2021e). "Symphyotrichum subulatum var. elongatum (Boss. ex A.G.Jones & Lowry) S.D.Sundb". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
- POWO (2021f). "Symphyotrichum subulatum var. squamatum (Spreng.) S.D.Sundb". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
- Sharma, M.; Bhattacharjee, B.; Lakshminarasimhan, P. (December 2012). "Symphyotrichum subulatum (Asteraceae) — a first report of an alien weed in India". Nelumbo. 54 (December 2012). Salt Lake City, Kolkata: Botanical Survey of India: 252–254. doi:10.20324/nelumbo/v54/2012/57445. ISSN 0976-5069. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
- TWC Staff (19 September 2018). "Symphyotrichum subulatum". Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (www.wildflower.org). University of Texas at Austin. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
- USDA, NRCS (2021). "Symphyotrichum subulatum". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
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S. subulatum
S. subulatum base
S. subulatum stem and leaves.jpg)
