Symphyotrichum estesii
{{Short description|Species of flowering plant in family Asteraceae}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Use shortened footnotes|date=July 2021}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2021}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Symphyotrichum estesii 183195901.jpg
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| image_upright =
| range_map = Symphyotrichum estesii distribution.jpg
| range_map_alt = Distribution map
| range_map_upright = 1.3
| range_map_caption =
{{ubc
|May Prairie State Natural Area
|Coffee County, Tennessee{{sfn|Semple|2019b}}
|{{coord|35.45|-86.02|display=inline}}
}}
| status = {{TNCStatus}}
| status_system = TNC
| status_ref = {{sfn|NatureServe|2021}}
| display_parents = 5
| parent = Symphyotrichum sect. Grandiflori
| genus = Symphyotrichum
| species = estesii
| authority = Semple{{sfn|Semple|2019a}}
}}
Symphyotrichum estesii is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, endemic to Coffee County, Tennessee. Commonly called May Prairie aster and Estes's aster,{{sfn|Semple|2019b}} it is a perennial, herbaceous plant that may reach {{convert|30|to|85|cm|in|0|abbr=off|sp=us}} in height. Its flowers have white ray florets and yellow disk florets. It is named in honor of botanist Dwayne Estes who discovered it in 2008.
Description
Symphyotrichum estesii is a perennial plant that blooms August through November. It grows from a long rhizome and forms colonies. Growing on one to several erect stems, the plants reach heights between {{convert|30|and|85|cm|in|0|abbr=off|sp=us}}. Its firm, hairy, green leaves range from lengths {{convert|5|to|6.6|cm|in|0|abbr=on|frac=4}} at the base to much shorter {{Nowrap|1 to 7 millimeters}} on the higher stems.{{sfn|Semple|2019a|p=1}} It has sometimes up to {{Nowrap|50 white-rayed}} flower heads with yellow centers. Each head has approximately 9{{nbsp}}to{{nbsp}}17 ray florets surrounding {{Nowrap|12 to 28}} disk florets.{{sfn|Semple|2019a|p=7}}
{{Gallery | height=120
|Symphyotrichum estesii 183196950.jpg|{{Center|Leaves and stem}}
|Symphyotrichum estesii 183195889.jpg|{{Center|Leaves and stem}}
|Symphyotrichum estesii 183195908.jpg|{{Center|Inflorescence showing bracts, involucres, and phyllaries}}
|Symphyotrichum estesii 183195893.jpg|{{Center|Larger inflorescence}}
|Symphyotrichum estesii 183195907.jpg|{{Center|Ray and disk florets}}
|Symphyotrichum estesii 183196944.jpg|{{Center|Growth habit in prairie}}
}}
=Chromosomes=
Taxonomy
Symphyotrichum estesii is classified in the subgenus Virgulus, section Grandiflori.{{sfn|Semple|2019a|p=7}} It is named in honor of Austin Peay State University professor of biology and herbarium director Dwayne Estes who discovered it in 2008.{{sfn|Semple|2019a|p=1}}
Distribution and habitat
Symphyotrichum estesii is found only in the May Prairie State Natural Area of Coffee County, Tennessee, within an area of less than 5{{nbsp}}hectares (less than approximately 12{{nbsp}}acres).{{sfn|Semple|2019a|p=9}} May Prairie is located in the Eastern Highland Rim of central Tennessee.
Within May Prairie are an open grassland little bluestem community and a tallgrass prairie community, as well as some sedge meadows. This combined grassland community is surrounded by an oak forest that begins the oak barrens.{{sfn|Department of Environment & Conservation|n.d.}} The Symphyotrichum estesii population thrives in the hydroxeric soils in the open and sunny flat prairie sites. In semi-shaded areas nearer the woods, it can rarely be found.{{sfn|Semple|2019a|p=9}}
Conservation
NatureServe lists it as Critically Imperiled (G1) worldwide.{{sfn|NatureServe|2021}}
Citations
{{Reflist|20em}}
References
{{refbegin}}
- {{Cite web
| author1 = ((Department of Environment & Conservation))
| date = n.d.
| title = May Prairie Class II Natural-Scientific State Natural Area
| url = https://www.tn.gov/environment/program-areas/na-natural-areas/natural-areas-middle-region/middle-region/na-na-may-prairie.html
| website = www.tn.gov
| publisher = Tennessee State Government
| location = Nashville
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221018235810/https://www.tn.gov/environment/program-areas/na-natural-areas/natural-areas-middle-region/middle-region/na-na-may-prairie.html
| archive-date = 18 October 2022
| url-status = live
| access-date = 18 October 2022
}}
- {{Cite web
| last1 = NatureServe | author-link1 = NatureServe
| date = 8 January 2021
| title = Symphyotrichum estesii
| url = https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.1167616/Symphyotrichum_estesii
| website = explorer.natureserve.org
| location = Arlington, Virginia
| access-date = 28 January 2021
}}
- {{Cite journal
| last1 = Semple | first1 = J.C. | author-link1 = John C. Semple
| year = 2019a
| title = Symphyotrichum estesii, a new species of virguloid aster from Tennessee (Asteraceae: Astereae)
| url = http://www.phytoneuron.net/2019Phytoneuron/36PhytoN-Symphyotrichumestesii.pdf
| journal = Phytoneuron
| volume = 2019
| issue = 36
| pages = 1–10
| issn = 2153-733X
| location = Fort Worth, Texas
| publisher = Guy L. Nesom
| access-date = 23 November 2020
}}
- {{Cite web
| last1 = Semple | first1 = J.C. | author-link1 = John C. Semple
| date = 16 October 2019b
| title = Symphyotrichum estesii May Prairie Aster, Estes's Aster
| url = https://uwaterloo.ca/astereae-lab/research/asters/symphyotrichum/symphyotrichum-estesii
| website = www.uwaterloo.ca
| location = Ontario
| language = en
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211006065107/https://uwaterloo.ca/astereae-lab/research/asters/symphyotrichum/symphyotrichum-estesii
| archive-date = 6 October 2021
| url-status = live
| access-date = 26 October 2021
}}
{{refend}}
{{Taxonbar|from1=Q102252900}}
Category:Endemic flora of the United States