Symphyotrichum nahanniense

(Cody) Semple

in J. C. Semple et al., Cult. Native Asters Ontario, 134. 2002.

Common names: Nahanni aster
EndemicConservation concern
Basionym: Aster nahanniensis Cody Naturaliste Canad. 101: 888. 1974
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 20. Treatment on page 523. Mentioned on page 468, 477, 501.

Perennials, 7–39 cm, cespitose; slender, woody, short-rhizomatous (rhizomes of season shallow- or deep-seated, not producing rosettes near parent stems). Stems 1, ascending to decumbent (slender, green to reddish brown), glabrate or sparsely short woolly-pilose in lines or zones, more densely so distally. Leaves (light green, abaxial sometimes becoming much darker) thin to firm, margins entire, scabrous, apices mucronulate, faces glabrous; basal persistent or withering by flowering, petiolate, blades oblanceolate to short-spatulate, 10–130 × 2–8 mm, bases cuneate to attenuate, margins rarely sparsely serrulate, apices obtuse, faces glabrous; proximal cauline persistent or withering by flowering, sessile, blades oblanceolate to linear lanceolate, 13–60 × 2–6 mm, bases ± clasping, apices acute; distal sessile, blades linear to linear-lanceolate, 10–36 × 1–4 mm, reduced distally, bases subauriculate, subclasping to ± clasping. Heads usually borne singly or in open, paniculiform arrays (sometimes terminating lateral branches arising from decumbent stems or from proximal stem branches), branches few. Peduncles 10–70 mm, sparsely to moderately short-strigose, bracts 0–10, lanceolate, often foliaceous, reduced distally. Involucres cylindro-campanulate, 4.7–7.4 mm. Phyllaries in 3–4 series, outer spatulate, inner lanceolate, ± unequal to subequal, bases indurate, margins reddish, papery, erose-ciliate, green zones lanceolate, apices acute, faces glabrous. Ray florets 15–41; corollas white to pale rose, often becoming rose-violet, laminae 5–13 × 0.7–1.8 mm. Disc florets 20–60; corollas yellow turning reddish with age, 3.7–6.6 mm, tubes shorter than funnelform throats, lobes erect to spreading, lanceolate, 0.4–0.8 mm. Cypselae tan (nerves stramineous), obovoid, compressed, 2–3 mm, 3–5-nerved, faces strigillose; pappi white, 4–6.5 mm. 2n = 16.


Phenology: Flowering Aug–Sep.
Habitat: Stream banks near hot mineral springs
Elevation: ± 1000 m

Discussion

Of conservation concern.

Symphyotrichum nahanniense is known only from the South Nahanni River (Mackenzie Mountains), Nahanni National Park.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
Luc Brouillet +, John C. Semple +, Geraldine A. Allen +, Kenton L. Chambers +  and Scott D. Sundberg† +
(Cody) Semple +
Aster nahanniensis +
Nahanni aster +
± 1000 m +
Stream banks near hot mineral springs +
Flowering Aug–Sep. +
in J. C. Semple et al., Cult. Native Asters Ontario, +
Endemic +  and Conservation concern +
Aster sect. Heterastrum +  and Aster subg. Symphyotrichum +
Symphyotrichum nahanniense +
Symphyotrichum sect. Symphyotrichum +
species +