Silphium asteriscus
Species of flowering plant
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Silphium asteriscus, commonly called starry rosinweed,[2] is an herbaceous plant in the family Asteraceae. It is native to the eastern United States, from Oklahoma and Texas east to Florida and Pennsylvania.[3] It is a widespread species found in a variety of open habitats, such as prairies, woodlands, and flatwoods.[4][5]
| Silphium asteriscus | |
|---|---|
| |
| Silphium asteriscus var. asteriscus | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Tribe: | Heliantheae |
| Genus: | Silphium |
| Species: | S. asteriscus |
| Binomial name | |
| Silphium asteriscus | |
Taxonomy
Additional research is needed to better understand the taxonomy of this species. It remains perhaps the most poorly-understood Silphium in eastern North America.[6] It appears to show a high level of local variability throughout its range, which has been interpreted as either a species complex, a single highly variable species, or some combination of both. Due to conflicting information about the best circumscription of the varieties, the taxonomy of this species remains unsettled.[7][8]
The most recent treatment from 2020 ranked Silphium asperrimum, Silphium dentatum and Silphium simpsonii at species status.[8] If adopted, this leaves S. asteriscus with three remaining varieties. They are:
- Silphium asteriscus var. asteriscus - Appalachian and eastward; with a congested, hispid inflorescence
- Silphium asteriscus var. laitoflium - south and west of the Appalachians; with broad, opposite leaves and a spreading glabrous inflorescence
- Silphium asteriscus var. trifoliatum - widespread; similar to the above but with narrow whorled leaves[8]
Line drawing of Silphium asteriscus
