Symphyotrichum adnatum

Symphyotrichum adnatum (formerly Aster adnatus) is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae native to the southeastern United States and the Bahamas. It is a perennial, herbaceous plant that may reach 30 to 120 centimeters (1 to 4 feet) tall with flowers that have lavender ray florets and yellow disk florets. The common name scaleleaf aster has been used for this species.

Symphyotrichum adnatum
Conservation status
Apparently Secure  (NatureServe)[1]
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. Virgulus
Section:	Symphyotrichum sect. Patentes
Species:	S. adnatum
Binomial name
Symphyotrichum adnatum (Nutt.) G.L.Nesom[2]
Native distribution[2]
Synonyms[2]
Aster adnatus Nutt. Aster microphyllus Torr. ex Lindl. Lasallea adnata (Nutt.) Semple & Brouillet Virgulus adnatus (Nutt.) Reveal & Keener

Description

Symphyotrichum adnatum is a perennial, herbaceous, cespitose flowering plant that may reach heights between 30 and 120 centimeters (1 and 4 feet). Each plant has five or more brown hairy stems that can grow erect or sprawling. The stems have thick and firm yellow-green leaves with smooth margins. It blooms from October into December with flowers that have 10–20 dark lavender ray florets and 12–25 yellow disk florets.^[3]

• 
  Basal leaves
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  Cauline leaves
• 
  Inflorescence
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  Involucre and phyllaries
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  Close-up of ray and disk florets
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  Flower heads after seeding

Taxonomy

The species' basionym (original scientific name) is Aster adnatus Nutt., and it has three other taxonomic synonyms. Its name with author citations is Symphyotrichum adnatus (Nutt.) G.L.Nesom,^[2] and a common name scaleleaf aster has been used for it.^[3] Within family Asteraceae, tribe Astereae, it is a member of the genus Symphyotrichum and subgenus Virgulus, placed in section Patentes,^[4] subsection Brachyphylli, where it exists with its sister species S. walteri.^[5]

Placement within Symphyotrichum subg. virgulus

• Symphyotrichum subg. Chapmaniana (1 species) subg. Astropolium (11 species) subg. Virgulus sect. Ericoidei S. ericoides S. falcatum sect. Patentes subsect. Brachyphylli S. adnatum S. walteri subsect. Patentes S. georgianum S. patens S. phlogifolium sect. Grandiflori subsect. Mexicanae S. bimater S. chihuahuense S. hintonii S. moranense S. purpurascens S. trilineatum S. turneri subsect. Grandiflori S. campestre S. estesii S. fendleri S. fontinale S. grandiflorum S. oblongifolium S. pygmaeum S. yukonense sect. Polyliguli S. novae-angliae sect. Concolores S. concolor S. lucayanum S. plumosum S. pratense S. sericeum subg. Ascendentes (2 species) subg. Symphyotrichum (55 species)

Distribution and habitat

S. adnatum is native to the Bahamas and the southeastern United States, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi.^[2] It grows at elevations up to 100 meters (330 feet) in scrubland and woodland with sandy soils.^[3]

Conservation

As of October 2024^[update], NatureServe listed Symphyotrichum adnatum as Apparently Secure (G4) worldwide. The status was last reviewed 2 May 1988.^[1]