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lucy Braun's snakeroot, rockhouse white snakeroot

Habit Perennials, 30–60 cm. Annuals, biennials, perennials, subshrubs, shrubs, or vines [trees].
Stems

erect, glabrous.

Leaves

opposite;

petioles 25–70 mm;

blades broadly ovate-deltate, 4–8 × 5–9 cm, (thin, delicate) bases truncate to subcordate, margins coarsely dentate, apices acute to acuminate, abaxial faces glabrous or sparsely puberulent.

usually cauline, sometimes basal or basal and cauline; usually opposite, sometimes whorled or alternate; usually petiolate, sometimes sessile;

blade margins entire, toothed, lobed, or dissected.

Peduncles

1–3 mm, glabrous or sparsely puberulent.

Involucres

3.5–4 mm.

Receptacles

usually flat to convex, sometimes spheric or conic, usually epaleate, rarely paleate (paleae readily falling).

Ray florets

0.

Disc florets

bisexual, fertile;

corollas white, ochroleucous, or pink to purplish, not yellow, not 2-lipped (sometimes ± zygomorphic), lobes (4–)5, usually ± deltate to lance-ovate, sometimes lanceolate to lance-linear;

anther bases obtuse, rounded, or truncate, not tailed, apical appendages usually ovate to lanceolate, sometimes 0;

styles abaxially papillate to hirsutulous (usually distally, sometimes at bases), branches ± linear, adaxially stigmatic in 2 lines from bases to appendages, appendages usually terete to clavate (lengths often 2–5+ times lengths of stigmatic lines), usually papillate.

Corollas

white, lobes glabrous or sparsely puberulent.

Phyllaries

apices acuminate, abaxial faces glabrous or sparsely puberulent.

usually persistent (readily falling), usually in 2–8+ series, distinct, and unequal, sometimes in 1–2 series, distinct, and subequal to equal, usually herbaceous to chartaceous, margins and/or apices sometimes scarious (abaxial faces often striate-nerved).

Calyculi

0.

Heads

clustered.

homogamous (usually discoid [radiant]), usually in corymbiform, paniculiform, racemiform, or spiciform arrays, sometimes borne singly or in glomerules.

Cypselae

sparsely and evenly hirtellous.

usually ± monomorphic within heads, usually columnar to fusiform, sometimes prismatic or compressed to flattened, rarely, if ever, beaked, bodies often 10-ribbed or (4–)5-angled, smooth or papillate to rugose between ribs or angles (glabrous or hairy);

pappi (rarely 0) usually persistent, usually of fine to coarse, barbellulate to plumose bristles, sometimes of scales (scales often aristate) or awns, sometimes of bristles and scales.

2n

= 34.

Ageratina luciae-brauniae

Asteraceae tribe Eupatorieae

Phenology Flowering Aug–Oct.
Habitat Under overhanging sandstone (Pottsville formation) cliffs and ledges
Elevation 400–500 m (1300–1600 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
KY; TN
[BONAP county map]
Mostly subtropics; tropics; and warm-temperate New World; also in Old World
Discussion

Ageratina luciae-brauniae was treated by A. F. Clewell and J. W. Wooten (1971) as a synonym of A. altissima and regarded by them as “bizarre plants showing extreme signs of etiolation from growing under limestone ledges” (p. 134). B. E. Wofford (1976) observed that greenhouse transplants of both species maintained distinctions that provide rationale for maintaining A. luciae-brauniae at specific rank.

Ageratina luciae-brauniae is in the Center for Plant Conservation’s National Collection of Endangered Plants.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Genera 170, species 2400 (27 genera, 159 species in the flora).

In a survey of Compositae, G. Bentham (1873) noted 35 genera and 750 or so species for Eupatorieae; he treated more than 50% of those species as belonging within one genus, Eupatorium. The current view of circumscriptions of most genera within Eupatorieae has stemmed largely from the work of H. Robinson, which was summarized by R. M. King and Robinson (1987), who reported 45 species for Eupatorium (i.e., ca. 2 % of the total species in the tribe).

Authors of molecular studies have repeatedly found Eupatorieae to be a coherent clade “nested” within Heliantheae (broad sense) (e.g., R. K. Jansen et al. 1990). Some of those authors have suggested inclusion of Eupatorieae within Heliantheae in the broad sense as a subtribe; others have suggested break-up of Heliantheae into a dozen or so tribes (e.g., J. L. Panero and V. A. Funk 2002).

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Key
1. Involucres narrowly cylindric, (1–)2–3 mm diam.; phyllaries 4 or 5(–6) in ± 1–2 series; florets 4 or 5(–6)
→ 2
1. Involucres campanulate, cylindric, ellipsoid, hemispheric, or obconic, (2–)3–7(–25) mm diam.; phyllaries (5–)8–45(–65+) in (1–)2–8+ series; florets (3–)10–125(–200+).
→ 3
2. Subshrubs or shrubs; phyllaries 5(–6); florets 5(–6)
Stevia
2. Vines; phyllaries 4; florets 4
Mikania
3. Cypselae 8–10-ribbed
→ 4
3. Cypselae (3–)4–5(–8)-ribbed
→ 9
4. Pappi of 0–5+, muticous, erose, lacerate, or lanceolate to subulate scales (1–4 mm) plus [5–]9–12+, aristate scales (10–15 mm)
Carphochaete
4. Pappi of 10–100+ bristles
→ 5
5. Leaves basal or basal and cauline (cauline mostly sessile)
→ 6
5. Leaves mostly cauline (at flowering; mostly petiolate, sometimes sessile)
→ 7
6. Heads usually in spiciform or racemiform, rarely corymbiform or thyrsiform, arrays; receptacles epaleate; pappi of 12–40 coarsely barbellate to plumose bristles
Liatris
6. Heads in corymbiform to paniculiform arrays; receptacles sometimes (at least partially) paleate; pappi of 35–40 barbellulate to barbellate (subequal) bristles
Carphephorus
7. Leaves all or mostly alternate (at flowering)
Garberia
7. Leaves all or mostly opposite
→ 8
8. Leaf blades deltate, lance-elliptic, lance-linear, lanceolate, lance-ovate, lance-rhombic, linear, oblong, obovate, ovate, rhombic-ovate, spatulate, or suborbiculate, margins crenate, dentate, entire, laciniate-dentate, lobed, or serrate; style bases enlarged, hairy
Brickellia
8. Leaf blades linear (distal sometimes scalelike), margins entire; style bases not enlarged, glabrous
Asanthus
9. Pappi usually 0 or of 2–6(–12), muticous or aristate to subulate scales plus 0–6(–12), setiform scales or bristles, rarely coroniform (Ageratum) or of 1–5 ± glandular setae (Hartwrightia)
→ 10
9. Pappi of (5–)10–80+ barbellulate, barbellate, or plumose bristles or setiform scales
→ 18
10. Pappi usually 0, rarely 1–5 ± glandular setae (Hartwrightia)
→ 11
10. Pappi usually of 2–6(–12) muticous or aristate to subulate scales plus 0–6(–12),setiform scales or bristles, rarely coroniform (Ageratum)
→ 14
11. Leaves basal and cauline, mostly alternate; cypselae obpyramidal (gland-dotted)
Hartwrightia
11. Leaves cauline, all or mostly opposite; cypselae prismatic (not gland-dotted)
→ 12
12. Heads in dense to open, cymiform or corymbiform arrays; phyllaries 30–40; style branches ± linear to clavate (distally dilated)
Ageratum
12. Heads in tight, corymbiform to subcapitate arrays or borne singly; phyllaries 10–30; style branches ± filiform or linear-filiform (little, if at all, distally dilated)
→ 13
13. Leaves sessile; phyllaries not notably nerved; receptacles epaleate; stylebases not enlarged
Shinnersia
13. Leaves petiolate or sessile; phyllaries 2- or 3-nerved; receptacles paleate(paleae similar to inner phyllaries); style bases enlarged
Isocarpha
14. Phyllaries unequal; receptacles flat to convex (not warty)
→ 15
14. Phyllaries ± equal; receptacles convex to conic or hemispheric (sometimes warty)
→ 16
15. Leaves mostly sessile (or nearly so), blades linear; cypselae ± fusiform
Malperia
15. Leaves petiolate, blades ovate, deltate, or rhombic to lanceolate; cypselae prismatic
Pleurocoronis
16. Leaves whorled (4 or 6 per node), blades linear; heads borne singly
Sclerolepis
16. Leaves mostly opposite (distal sometimes alternate), blades elliptic, lanceolate, or oblong; heads usually in cymiform to corymbiform arrays, sometimes borne singly
→ 17
17. Leaves petiolate; involucres 3–6 mm diam.; phyllaries usually 2-nerved; pappi usually of 5–6 aristate scales, rarely coroniform
Ageratum
17. Leaves sessile; involucres 3–4(–5) mm diam.; phyllaries obscurely 3–4-nerved; pappi of 2–6 setiform scales
Trichocoronis
18. Involucres cylindric (3–4+ mm diam); pappus bristles plumose (basally coherent or connate, falling together or in groups)
Carminatia
18. Involucres usually obconic to hemispheric, sometimes campanulate, cylindric, or ellipsoid (2–7 mm diam.); pappus bristles smooth to barbellulate or barbellate (not plumose)
→ 19
19. Phyllaries ± equal
→ 20
19. Phyllaries unequal (outer shorter)
→ 23
20. Receptacles conic
Conoclinium
20. Receptacles flat or convex
→ 21
21. Phyllaries 2- or 3-nerved, or not notably nerved, or pinnately nerved; style bases usually puberulent (glabrous in Eupatorium capillifolium); cypselae usually gland-dotted
Eupatorium
21. Phyllaries 3-nerved, or 0- or 2-nerved; style bases glabrous; cypselae sometimes gland-dotted
→ 22
22. Involucres 2–3 mm diam.; phyllaries 7–16 in 1–2 series; florets 3–13
Koanophyllon
22. Involucres 3–6 mm diam.; phyllaries ca. 30 in 2–3 series; florets 10–60
Ageratina
23. Style bases usually puberulent (glabrous in Eupatorium capillifolium); cypselae usually glabrous and gland-dotted, sometimes scabrellous on ribs
→ 24
23. Style bases usually glabrous (hirsute in Flyriella); cypselae glabrous or hirsute, hirtellous, hispidulous, hispidulo-strigose, puberulent, or scabrellous (sometimes gland-dotted)
→ 25
24. Leaves mostly opposite (sometimes whorled, distal sometimes alternate)
Eupatorium
24. Leaves mostly whorled (3–7 per node), rarely opposite
Eutrochium
25. Annuals or perennials; involucres 2–5+ mm diam.; florets 10–30
→ 26
25. Perennials, subshrubs, or shrubs; involucres (2–)4–7 mm diam.; florets (3–)25–50
→ 27
26. Perennials, 20–60 cm (viscid); corollas white to ochroleucous, throats ± cylindric (± contracted distally, lengths 4–6 times diams.)
Flyriella
26. Annuals or perennials, 30–120+ cm (not viscid, stems usually puberulent, hairs curled); corollas bluish, pinkish, purplish, or white, throats funnelform (not contracted distally, lengths 2.5–4 times diams.)
Fleischmannia
27. Phyllaries usually readily falling, 18–65+ in 4–6+ series, 3–5-nerved; cypselae (3–)5-ribbed, scabrellous, usually gland-dotted
Chromolaena
27. Phyllaries usually persistent, 7–35 in (1–)2–4 series, 2- or 4-nerved, 3-nerved, or obscurely nerved; cypselae 5(–7)-ribbed, hispidulous, hispidulo-strigose, puberulent, or sparsely scabrellous (sometimes gland-dotted)
→ 28
28. Phyllaries 2- or 4-nerved; corollas white to yellowish white; pappi readily falling or fragile
Brickelliastrum
28. Phyllaries 3-nerved or obscurely nerved; corollas usually blue, lavender, or pinkish, sometimes white; pappi persistent
→ 29
29. Involucres 5–7 mm diam.; phyllaries 30–35; florets 30–50
Tamaulipa
29. Involucres 2–3 mm diam.; phyllaries 7–16; florets 3–13
Koanophyllon
Source FNA vol. 21, p. 550. FNA vol. 21, p. 459.
Parent taxa Asteraceae > tribe Eupatorieae > Ageratina Asteraceae
Sibling taxa
A. adenophora, A. altissima, A. aromatica, A. havanensis, A. herbacea, A. jucunda, A. lemmonii, A. occidentalis, A. paupercula, A. rothrockii, A. shastensis, A. thyrsiflora, A. wrightii
Subordinate taxa
Ageratina, Ageratum, Asanthus, Brickellia, Brickelliastrum, Carminatia, Carphephorus, Carphochaete, Chromolaena, Conoclinium, Eupatorium, Eutrochium, Fleischmannia, Flyriella, Garberia, Hartwrightia, Isocarpha, Koanophyllon, Liatris, Malperia, Mikania, Pleurocoronis, Sclerolepis, Shinnersia, Stevia, Tamaulipa, Trichocoronis
Synonyms Eupatorium luciae-brauniae
Name authority (Fernald) R. M. King & H. Robinson: Phytologia 19: 215. (1970) Cassini: J. Phys. Chim. Hist. Nat. Arts 88: 202. (1819)
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