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cottony goldenaster

Scientific Name: Chrysopsis gossypina ssp. gossypina

Family: Asteraceae

Category: Dicot

Growth: Forb/herb

Duration: Perennial

Other Names:

       

Cottony Goldenaster (Chrysopsis gossypina)

The Cottony Goldenaster is a North American native plant known for its bright yellow fall flowers and leaves covered in soft hairs. It thrives in sandy, sunny areas, especially along coastal dunes.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Chrysopsis gossypina (Michx.) Elliott
  • Common Name: Cottony Goldenaster, Cottonleaf Golden-aster
  • Family: Asteraceae (Aster Family)
  • Synonyms: Heterotheca pilosa, Heterotheca gossypina (Michx.) Shinners, Chrysopsis longii Fernald

Subspecies

  • Chrysopsis gossypina subsp. gossypina
  • Chrysopsis gossypina subsp. cruiseana (Dress) Semple
  • Chrysopsis gossypina subsp. hyssopifolia

Distribution and Habitat

  • Native to the Coastal Plain of North America.
  • Found from Florida north to Virginia.
  • Common in the North Carolina coastal plain, specifically in sandy areas.
  • Frequently found on dunes and open sunny/sandy areas.

Morphological Characteristics

  • A perennial forb/herb (a non-woody plant that is not a grass).
  • Leaves are pubescent (covered with soft hairs).
  • Distinctive for its big yellow flowers that bloom in September and October, sometimes into November.

Quirky Facts

  • The species epithet gossypina derives from the Latin "gossypi(um)" meaning "cotton", referring to the pubescence of the plant.