Symphyotrichum lentum

Symphyotrichum lentum (formerly Aster lentus) is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae with the common name of Suisun Marsh aster.[4] It is a perennial and herbaceous plant endemic to the marshes of Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta of Northern California.

Symphyotrichum lentum

Imperiled  (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Tribe: Astereae
Subtribe: Symphyotrichinae
Genus: Symphyotrichum
Subgenus: Symphyotrichum subg. Symphyotrichum
Section: Symphyotrichum sect. Occidentales
Species:
S. lentum
Binomial name
Symphyotrichum lentum
Symphyotrichum lentum native distribution: California counties of Contra Costa, Napa, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano, and Yolo.
Symphyotrichum lentum distribution by county in California[3]
Synonyms[2]
  • Aster chilensis var. lentus (Greene) Jeps.
  • Aster lentus Greene

Description

Symphyotrichum lentum is similar in appearance to Symphyotrichum chilense, which may be found in the same area. It is a colonial perennial herb producing a hairless stem 40 to 200 centimeters (1+1⁄4 to 6+1⁄2 feet) tall from a long rhizome. The leaves are linear or lance-shaped, pointed, and up to 15 centimeters (6 inches) long near the base of the plant. The lower leaves wither by the time the plant flowers. The inflorescence is an open array of flower heads with a fringe of violet ray florets around a center of yellow disc florets. The fruit is a hairy cypsela with a long white pappus.[5]

Symphyotrichum lentum

Distribution and habitat

Symphyotrichum lentum is endemic to the salt marshes and wet grasslands of the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta in Northern California.[5]

Conservation

NatureServe lists it as Imperiled (G2) worldwide.[1]

Citations
  1. NatureServe 2022.
  2. POWO 2019.
  3. CNPS, RPP 2021.
  4. USDA 2014.
  5. Brouillet et al. 2006.

References
  • Brouillet, L.; Semple, J.C.; Allen, G.A.; Chambers, K.L.; Sundberg, S.D. (2006). "Symphyotrichum lentum". In Flora of North America Editorial Committee (ed.). Flora of North America North of Mexico (FNA). Vol. 20. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press. Retrieved 10 July 2021 – via eFloras.
  • CNPS, RPP (2021). "Symphyotrichum lentum". Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants of California. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  • NatureServe (3 June 2022). "Symphyotrichum lentum Suisun Marsh Aster". NatureServe Explorer (explorer.natureserve.org). Arlington, Virginia: NatureServe. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  • POWO (2019). "Symphyotrichum lentum (Greene) G.L.Nesom". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  • USDA, NRCS (2014). "Symphyotrichum lentum". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
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