Symphyotrichum rhiannon
| Rhiannon's aster | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Genus: | Symphyotrichum |
| Subgenus: | Symphyotrichum subg. Symphyotrichum |
| Section: | Symphyotrichum sect. Symphyotrichum |
| Species: | S. rhiannon
|
| Binomial name | |
| Symphyotrichum rhiannon | |
Symphyotrichum rhiannon is a species of flowering plant endemic to a serpentine barren in western North Carolina. It has been given the vernacular Rhiannon's aster.[2] It is a perennial, herbaceous plant in the family Asteraceae.[3]
Taxonomy
Symphyotrichum rhiannon was formally described by Alan Stuart Weakley and Thomas E. Govus in 2004.[3]
Etymology
Kauffman, Nesom, et al., formally explained the etymology of the species as follows:[3]
[It] is named in honor of Rhiannon Weakley, whose desire to rest during a field excursion led the authors to further investigate..., and also in honor of the original Rhiannon, a Welsh goddess figure....
Informally explained, Rhiannon Weakley was the toddler daughter of Alan and Allison Weakley. She needed a snack and a nap during the 2003 field excursion.[4]
“Rhiannon hadn’t had a nap that morning,” says Alan Weakley, “and she had a little, ah, loss of composure.”
So the group plopped down to give Rhiannon a snack and a chance to rest. And there, growing all around, was [Laura] Mansberg’s mystery aster.
Distribution and habitat
Symphyotrichum rhiannon is endemic to Buck Creek Serpentine Barrens in Clay County, North Carolina, in the Nantahala National Forest.[3][5]
Conservation
NatureServe lists it as Critically imperiled (G1).[2]
References
- ^ POWO (2019). "Symphyotrichum rhiannon". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
- ^ a b NatureServe (10 November 2020). "Symphyotrichum rhiannon - Rhiannon's Aster". NatureServe. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
- ^ a b c d Kauffman, Gary L.; Nesom, Guy L.; Weakley, Alan S.; Govus, Thomas E.; Cotterman, Laura M. (2004). "A new species of Symphyotrichum (Asteraceae: Astereae) from a serpentine barren in western North Carolina". SIDA, Contributions to Botany. 21: 827–839. ISSN 0036-1488. Retrieved 29 November 2020 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
- ^ Smith, Jason (1 September 2005). "Rhiannon's Aster — A toddler's tantrum helps a new flower get its name". Endeavors (endeavors.unc.edu) (Fall 2005 ed.). Chapel Hill, North Carolina: UNC Research. ISSN 1933-4338. Archived from the original on 16 February 2012. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
- ^
USFS (n.d.). "Restoration of Buck Creek Serpentine Barrens, Tusquitee Ranger District, Nantahala National Forest". www.fs.fed.us. United States Forest Service, USDA. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
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External links
Media related to Symphyotrichum rhiannon at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Symphyotrichum rhiannon at Wikispecies
