Symphyotrichum anticostense

Symphyotrichum anticostense (formerly Aster anticostensis) is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae with the common name of Anticosti aster. It is endemic to Quebec, New Brunswick, and Maine. S. anticostense is a perennial, herbaceous plant that may reach 10 to 90 centimeters (4 to 35 inches) in height. Its flowers have pale purple or lilac, sometimes white, ray florets and yellow, then reddish purple, disk florets.

Symphyotrichum anticostense
Symphyotrichum anticostense in Quebec
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Subtribe:	Symphyotrichinae
Genus:	Symphyotrichum
Subgenus:	Symphyotrichum subg. Symphyotrichum
Section:	Symphyotrichum sect. Symphyotrichum
Species:	S. anticostense
Binomial name
Symphyotrichum anticostense (Fernald) G.L.Nesom[2]
Native distribution[3]
Synonyms[2]
Aster anticostensis Fernald Aster gaspensis Vict. Aster hesperius var. gaspensis (Vict.) B.Boivin

Description

Symphyotrichum anticostense is a perennial, herbaceous plant that may reach 10 to 90 centimeters (4 to 35 inches) in height. It grows in clonal colonies from long rhizomes, each which produces one erect, red-toned, and hairless stem. Its flower heads are found in long and somewhat racemiform arrays. The involucre of each flower head is bell-shaped and 6–10 millimeters (0.24–0.39 inches) long. Its flowers have 25–44 pale purple or lilac, sometimes white, ray florets, size 9.5–20 mm (0.37–0.79 in) long by 0.7–1.4 mm (0.028–0.055 in) wide. The ray florets surround 29–52 yellow, maturing to reddish-purple, disk florets.^[3]

• 
  S. anticostense floret view
• 
  S. anticostense involucre and phyllaries

Taxonomy

Symphyotrichum anticostense is classified in the subgenus Symphyotrichum, section Symphyotrichum, subsection Symphyotrichum. The species' common name is "Anticosti aster".^[3]

Placement within Symphyotrichum subg. Symphyotrichum

• Symphyotrichum subg. Symphyotrichum sect. Conyzopsis[ref 1]: 271  S. ciliatum S. frondosum S. laurentianum sect. Occidentales[ref 1]: 271  S. chilense S. eatonii S. foliaceum S. greatae S. hallii S. hendersonii S. jessicae S. lentum S. molle S. spathulatum S. subspicatum sect. Turbinelli[ref 2]: 133  S. turbinellum sect. Symphyotrichum[ref 1]: 268  ssect. Dumosi[ref 1]: 269  S. boreale S. bullatum S. burgessii S. carnerosanum S. dumosum S. eulae S. lanceolatum S. lateriflorum S. leone S. nahanniense S. ontarionis S. praealtum S. racemosum S. schaffneri S. simmondsii S. tradescantii S. welshii ssect. Heterophylli[ref 2]: 133  ser. Concinni[ref 2]: 133    S. laeve S. oolentangiense ser. Cordifolii[ref 2]: 133    S. anomalum S. ciliolatum S. cordifolium S. drummondii S. shortii S. undulatum S. urophyllum ssect. Porteriani[ref 1]: 270  S. depauperatum S. kentuckiense S. parviceps S. pilosum S. porteri ssect. Symphyotrichum ser. Punicei[ref 2]: 133  S. elliottii S. firmum S. prenanthoides S. puniceum S. rhiannon ser. Symphyotrichum S. anticostense S. novi-belgii S. retroflexum S. robynsianum

  Cladogram references Nesom, G.L. (September 1994). "Review of the Taxonomy of Aster sensu lato (Asteraceae: Astereae), Emphasizing the New World Species". Phytologia. 77 (3) (published 31 January 1995): 141–297. ISSN 0031-9430. Retrieved 23 August 2021 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library. Semple, J.C.; Heard, S.B.; Brouillet, L. (2002). "Cultivated and Native Asters of Ontario (Compositae: Astereae)". University of Waterloo Biology Series. 41. Ontario: University of Waterloo: 1–134.

Distribution and habitat

Symphyotrichum anticostense is endemic to Quebec, New Brunswick, and Maine. It is a river and lake gravel shore plant that is conditioned to these calcareous habitats.^[3]

Conservation

Symphyotrichum anticostense is vulnerable for reasons including erosion, deer browsing, and invasive species encroachment. In Maine, it is critically endangered.^[1]