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Eurybia avita (Alexander) Nesom
Alexander's Rock Aster
Federal Protection: No US federal protection
State Protection: No Georgia state protection
Global Rank: G3
State Rank: S3
Element Locations Tracked in Biotics: Yes
SWAP 2015 Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN): Yes
SWAP 2025 Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN): Yes
2025 SGCN Priority Tier: Moderate Conservation Concern
Element Occurrences (EOs) in Georgia: 72
Habitat Summary for element in Georgia: Granite outcrops in seepy margins with Solidago gracillima and Spiranthes cernua
Perennial herb with stiff, more or less erect stems 12 - 31 inches (30 - 80 cm) tall, often forming clumps of several stems; the upper part of the stem is hairy, the lower part smooth. Leaves are 1 - 5.5 inches long and less than 0.2 inch wide (25 - 140 mm long and 2 - 5 mm wide), alternate, grass-like, firm, hairless, clasping the stem at the base, with a single conspicuous midvein and a hard spine at the tip; the upper leaves are much smaller than lower leaves; lower leaves may be withered by flowering time. Flower heads are in narrow clusters, each head with 8 - 25 (usually fewer than 15) lavender to violet (rarely white) ray flowers and 15 - 45 yellow disk flowers (turning red with age). The base of each head is surrounded by a cylinder-shaped involucre about 0.3 inch (8 mm) high, composed of 4 - 5 series of spreading, green bracts. Fruits are small, dry, tan, and seed-like, tipped with fine tan bristles about 0.2 inch (6 mm) long.
Alexander Rock Aster resembles many other fall-flowering, purple-rayed asters. It is distinguished by its habitat, the small number of ray flowers, and the grass-like, spine-tipped leaves.
Eurybia eryngiifolia (Snakeroot-leaf Aster) occurs in moist pine flatwoods in the Coastal Plain. Its stems are hairy and its leaves are bordered with spines. For more information, see: http://beta.floranorthamerica.org/Eurybia_eryngiifolia
Eurybia jonesiae (Piedmont Big-leaf Aster) occurs in Piedmont oak-hickory forests; it has oval to heart-shaped leaves. For more information, see: https://www.georgiabiodiversity.org/portal/profile?group=plants&es_id=17852
Shallow, sandy soils around edges of Piedmont granite outcrops.
Alexander Rock Aster is a perennial herb that goes dormant in the winter. Little is known about its life history. Related species are pollinated by a variety of bees, flies, and butterflies. Its bristle-tipped fruits are dispersed by the wind and by small animals.
The leaves and growth habit of Alexander Rock Aster are fairly recognizable in the summer, but surveys are best conducted during flowering, late summer–early fall, when the plants are most conspicuous.
Piedmont of Georgia and western South Carolina.
Piedmont granite outcrops are one of the most threatened habitats in Georgia. They are subject to mining, trash dumping, recreational vehicle use, and conversion to pasture. They are also threatened by exotic pest plant invasion, especially Chinese Privet.
| Threat 1 | Threat 2 | Threat 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Threat | Residential & commercial development | Agriculture & aquaculture | Energy production & mining |
| Specific Threat | None | None | None |
Eurybia avita is ranked S3 by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, indicating that it is “vulnerable in the state due to a restricted range, relatively few populations, recent and widespread declines, or other factors making it vulnerable to extirpation.” It has been documented at 72 sites, of which 44 have been confirmed extant since 2000. Only four of these populations occur on conservation land.
Protect Piedmont granite outcrops with conservation purchase or easement. Monitor sites for vehicle use and trash dumping and restrict access where needed. Eradicate Chinese Privet at outcrops.
Brouillet, L. 2006. Online species account for Eurybia avita. Flora of North America North of Mexico, vol. 20. http://beta.floranorthamerica.org/Eurybia_avita
Cronquist, A. 1980. Vascular flora of the southeastern United States, Volume 1, Asteraceae. University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill.
GADNR. 2019. Element occurrence records for Eurybia avita. Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division. Social Circle, Georgia.
GADNR. 2019. About Georgia rare natural elements conservation data: state rank (Georgia conservation status). Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division. Social Circle, Georgia. https://georgiabiodiversity.org/portal/about-this-data
NatureServe. 2019. Species account for Eurybia avita. NatureServe Explorer: an online encyclopedia of life, Version 7.1. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.153185/Eurybia_avita
Weakley, A.S. 2015. Flora of the southern and mid-Atlantic States. University of North Carolina Herbarium, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. http://www.herbarium.unc.edu/flora.htm
Linda G. Chafin
Linda G. Chafin, 9 November 2019: original account
