Eurybia paludosa
Encyclopedia
Eurybia paludosa, commonly known as the southern swamp aster, is an herbaceous perennial in the aster family
. It is native to the southeastern United States
where it is confined to the Carolinas and the states of Georgia
and Florida
. It is generally confined to moist soils, though it can occasionally be found on sand hills along the coastal plain
. The southern swamp aster is often confused with the closely related southern prairie aster (Eurybia hemispherica
), though they do not occur in the same habitats or geographical areas. Its flower heads emerge in the late summer through fall and show deep lavender to purple rays with yellow centres.
, where both plants are present E. paludosa occurs along the coastal plain, but E. hemispherica is confined to the mountains. Also, in the north of Florida, the southern swamp aster is found solely in Nassau County
in the extreme northeast of the state, while the southern prairie aster is restricted to the western panhandle
.
, Georgia and Florida. In Florida it is only known in Nassau County in the extreme northeast of the state. It is found in wet soils in habitats that include the edges of swamp
s and pools, moist savannas and low-lying pinelands. It is also encountered with much less frequency in drier habitats including atop small sand dunes along coastal plains and in open hammocks
. As a principally low-lying species it is only found at elevations from sea-level to 100 metres.
Asteraceae
The Asteraceae or Compositae , is an exceedingly large and widespread family of vascular plants. The group has more than 22,750 currently accepted species, spread across 1620 genera and 12 subfamilies...
. It is native to the southeastern United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
where it is confined to the Carolinas and the states of Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
and Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. It is generally confined to moist soils, though it can occasionally be found on sand hills along the coastal plain
Coastal plain
A coastal plain is an area of flat, low-lying land adjacent to a seacoast and separated from the interior by other features. One of the world's longest coastal plains is located in eastern South America. The southwestern coastal plain of North America is notable for its species diversity...
. The southern swamp aster is often confused with the closely related southern prairie aster (Eurybia hemispherica
Eurybia hemispherica
Eurybia hemispherica, commonly known as the Southern Prairie Aster, Single-stemmed Bog Aster or Tennessee Aster, is an herbaceous perennial in the composite family. It is native to the southeastern United States....
), though they do not occur in the same habitats or geographical areas. Its flower heads emerge in the late summer through fall and show deep lavender to purple rays with yellow centres.
Similar species
Eurybia paludosa is often confused with the closely related Eurybia hemispherica. Despite the fact that both of these asters are found in the southeastern United States, they do not occur in the same geographical regions nor the same habitats. For example, in North CarolinaNorth Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, where both plants are present E. paludosa occurs along the coastal plain, but E. hemispherica is confined to the mountains. Also, in the north of Florida, the southern swamp aster is found solely in Nassau County
Nassau County, Florida
Nassau County is a county located in the state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 57,663. The U.S. Census Bureau 2008 estimate for the county was 69,835. Its county seat is Fernandina Beach, Florida....
in the extreme northeast of the state, while the southern prairie aster is restricted to the western panhandle
Florida Panhandle
The Florida Panhandle, an informal, unofficial term for the northwestern part of Florida, is a strip of land roughly 200 miles long and 50 to 100 miles wide , lying between Alabama on the north and the west, Georgia also on the north, and the Gulf of Mexico to the south. Its eastern boundary is...
.
Distribution and habitat
Eurybia paludosa is confined to the U.S. states of North Carolina, South CarolinaSouth Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, Georgia and Florida. In Florida it is only known in Nassau County in the extreme northeast of the state. It is found in wet soils in habitats that include the edges of swamp
Swamp
A swamp is a wetland with some flooding of large areas of land by shallow bodies of water. A swamp generally has a large number of hammocks, or dry-land protrusions, covered by aquatic vegetation, or vegetation that tolerates periodical inundation. The two main types of swamp are "true" or swamp...
s and pools, moist savannas and low-lying pinelands. It is also encountered with much less frequency in drier habitats including atop small sand dunes along coastal plains and in open hammocks
Hammock (ecology)
Hammocks are dense stands of hardwood trees that grow on natural rises of only a few inches higher than surrounding marshland that is otherwise too wet to support them. Hammocks are distinctive in that they are formed gradually over thousands of years rising in a wet area through the deposits of...
. As a principally low-lying species it is only found at elevations from sea-level to 100 metres.