Carphephorus corymbosus

Carphephorus corymbosus, the Florida paintbrush^[3] or coastal plain chaffhead,^[4] is a species of North American plant in the family Asteraceae. They are native to the southeastern United States in the States of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.^[5]

Carphephorus corymbosus
Conservation status
Apparently Secure  (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Genus:	Carphephorus
Species:	C. corymbosus
Binomial name
Carphephorus corymbosus (Nutt.) Torr. & A.Gray 1841
Synonyms[2]
Liatris corymbosa Nutt. 1818

Description

Carphephorus corymbosus is an herb up to 120 cm (4 feet) tall. It produces a flat-topped inflorescence with many small purplish flower heads containing disc florets but no ray florets.^[3] Its habitats include sand hills, sandy open woodlands and pine barrens.^[6]

Distribution and Habitat

C. corymbosus is found in the sandy uplands of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.^[7] In south-central Florida, it is exclusively found in pine flatwoods, savannas, and pine flatwoods.^[8] C. corymbosus thrives in open light conditions, and is capable of growing in areas disturbed by humans, including bulldozed areas, around powerlines, roadsides, and clearings.^[9]