Symphyotrichum rhiannon

Symphyotrichum rhiannon is a species of flowering plant endemic to a serpentine barren in western North Carolina. It has been given the vernacular Rhiannon's aster.[2] It is a perennial, herbaceous plant in the family Asteraceae.[3]

Rhiannon's aster

Critically Imperiled  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Symphyotrichum
Subgenus: Symphyotrichum subg. Symphyotrichum
Section: Symphyotrichum sect. Symphyotrichum
Species:
S. rhiannon
Binomial name
Symphyotrichum rhiannon
Weakley & Govus[1]

Taxonomy

Symphyotrichum rhiannon was formally described by Alan Stuart Weakley and Thomas E. Govus in 2004.[3]

Etymology

Kauffman, Nesom, et al., formally explained the etymology of the species as follows:[3]

[It] is named in honor of Rhiannon Weakley, whose desire to rest during a field excursion led the authors to further investigate..., and also in honor of the original Rhiannon, a Welsh goddess figure....

Informally explained, Rhiannon Weakley was the toddler daughter of Alan and Allison Weakley. She needed a snack and a nap during the 2003 field excursion.[4]

“Rhiannon hadn’t had a nap that morning,” says Alan Weakley, “and she had a little, ah, loss of composure.”

So the group plopped down to give Rhiannon a snack and a chance to rest. And there, growing all around, was [Laura] Mansberg’s mystery aster.

Distribution and habitat

Symphyotrichum rhiannon is endemic to Buck Creek Serpentine Barrens in Clay County, North Carolina, in the Nantahala National Forest.[3][5]

Conservation

NatureServe lists it as Critically imperiled (G1).[2]

References
  1. POWO (2019). "Symphyotrichum rhiannon". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  2. NatureServe (10 November 2020). "Symphyotrichum rhiannon - Rhiannon's Aster". NatureServe. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  3. Kauffman, Gary L.; Nesom, Guy L.; Weakley, Alan S.; Govus, Thomas E.; Cotterman, Laura M. (2004). "A new species of Symphyotrichum (Asteraceae: Astereae) from a serpentine barren in western North Carolina". SIDA, Contributions to Botany. 21: 827–839. ISSN 0036-1488. Retrieved 29 November 2020 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  4. Smith, Jason (1 September 2005). "Rhiannon's Aster — A toddler's tantrum helps a new flower get its name". Endeavors (endeavors.unc.edu) (Fall 2005 ed.). Chapel Hill, North Carolina: UNC Research. ISSN 1933-4338. Archived from the original on 16 February 2012. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  5. USFS (n.d.). "Restoration of Buck Creek Serpentine Barrens, Tusquitee Ranger District, Nantahala National Forest". www.fs.fed.us. United States Forest Service, USDA. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
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