Symphyotrichum eulae (formerly Aster eulae) is a species of flowering plant in the familyAsteraceaeendemic to Texas. The common namesEula's aster and Texas aster have been used. It is a perennial, herbaceous plant that may reach 5 to 150 centimeters (2 to 59 inches) in height. Its flowers have white to bluish or lavender-white ray florets and yellow then reddish to brown disk florets. It was named for Eula Whitehouse, American botanist, botanical illustrator, and plant collector.
Description
S. eulae is a perennial, herbaceous plant that may reach heights between 5 and 150 centimeters (2 and 59 inches). It grows from a long and thick rhizome and forms colonies of plants that each have one to three or more erect, straight, and stout glabrous (hairless) stems. Its flowers have white to bluish or lavender-white ray florets and yellow then reddish to brown disk florets.[6]
Chromosomes
It has a monoploid number (also called base number) of eight chromosomes(x = 8). The species is hexaploid with six sets of the chromosomes for a total chromosome count of 48.[6]
Taxonomy
Etymology
Symphyotrichum eulae was named by Shinners for Eula Whitehouse, American botanist, botanical illustrator, and plant collector.[7] The common names Eula's aster[6] and Texas aster have been used.[4]
Symphyotrichum eulae is endemic to Texas. Shinners reported that it had been found in the Texas counties of Bexar, Calhoun, Cooke, Dallas, Denton, Hill, Hunt, Kaufman, Navarro, Rockwall, Tarrant, Wise, and Wood.[3] In his 1950 protologue for the species, he said that it was "Common in north central Texas, from Hopkins and Wood west to Cooke and Wise counties; extending south to Bexar and Calhoun counties".[13]
The species is found in semi-shaded clay or sandy clay soils[13] at elevations up to 100 meters (330 feet).[6]
^Shinners (1950), p. 36: "Common in north central Texas, from Hopkins and Wood west to Cooke and Wise counties; extending south to Bexar and Calhoun counties".
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