Symphyotrichum parviflorum (formerly Symphyotrichum subulatum var. parviflorum) is an annual and herbaceous plant commonly known as southwestern annual saltmarsh aster.[4] It is native to Mexico, the Caribbean, most of Central America, Ecuador, and the southwestern United States. It is also known by the scientific name Symphyotrichum expansum.

Symphyotrichum parviflorum
S. parviflorum growing at Coyote Hills Regional Park in Alameda County, California
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. parviflorum
Binomial name
Symphyotrichum parviflorum (Nees) Greuter[1]
Native distribution[1]
Synonyms[1][2]
Basionym Aster parviflorus Nees[3] Alphabetical list Aster exilis Elliott Aster heleius Urb. Aster inconspicuus Less. Aster madrensis M.E.Jones[2] Aster neomexicanus Wooton & Standl. Aster subulatus var. cubensis (DC.) Shinners Erigeron expansus Poepp. Symphyotrichum expansum (Poepp. ex Spreng.) G.L.Nesom Symphyotrichum subulatum var. parviflorum (Nees) S.D.Sundb. Tripolium subulatum var. parviflorum Nees[1]

Description

Southwestern annual saltmarsh aster usually flowers from July through November, but sometimes into January. It has white, sometimes pink, ray florets surrounding yellow disk florets. As the plant is drying after pollination, each ray floret curls into 1 to 2 coils.[5]

Taxonomy

The basionym of Symphyotrichum parviflorum is Aster parviflorus, and it was first described by Christian Gottfried Daniel Nees von Esenbeck ("Nees") in 1818.[3] It also has been called Symphyotrichum expansum with the basionym Erigeron expansus[2] and Symphyotrichum subulatum var. parviflorum.[5]

Distribution and habitat

Symphyotrichum parviflorum is native to Mexico, the Caribbean, most of Central America, Ecuador, and the southwestern United States. It is an introduced species in central Europe.[1] Flora of North America reports an introduction of the species in Hawaii and Japan. It grows in marshy habitats and roadsides at 0–1,100 meters (0–3,600 feet), sometimes up to 4,000 m (13,100 ft), and it is often considered weedy.[5]

Conservation

As of December 2021^[update], NatureServe gives no global status rank to this plant. It does rank it as Critically Imperiled in Nevada.[6]

Citations

References