Sericocarpus asteroides (L.) Britt. et al. - Toothed Whitetop Aster
Family - Asteraceae
Stems:
Leaves:
Inflorescence:
N/A
Involucre:
Ray Flowers:
Disk Flowers:
Flowering - June - August.
Habitat - Hammocks, road banks, thickets.
Origin - Native to North America.
Other information - This attractive little species can be found throughout Alabama. The plant is easy to identify becasue of its toothed leaves, white ray flowers, and spreading phyllaries. The apices of the phyllaries are green and the bases are white.
The genus name Sericocarpus derives from the Greek "seric(o)" meaning "silk" and "carp(us)" meaning "fruit" referring to the silky hairy achenes of this genus.
The species epithet asteroides derives from the Greek "oid" meaning "like, form." The name means "resembling an Aster" which is another genus of the Asteraceae.
Alabama Distribution:
Photographs taken at Fort Benning, GA., 7-3-05.