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tall boneset, tall joepyeweed, tall thoroughwort

smallflower eupatorium, smallflower thoroughwort

Habit Perennials, 50–150+ cm. Perennials, 40–100+ cm.
Stems

(from short caudices or stout rhizomes) single, sparsely branched distally, pubescent throughout (nodes sometimes with galls).

(from short rhizomes) single, densely branched distally, puberulent throughout.

Leaves

usually opposite (nodes often appearing leafy, lateral buds producing 2+ pairs of leaves);

sessile or subsessile;

blades strongly 3-nerved from bases, lance-elliptic to oblanceolate, 50–120 × 5–20 mm, bases ± cuneate, margins entire proximally, serrate distally, apices acuminate, faces puberulent or villous, gland-dotted.

usually opposite (distal sometimes alternate, lateral buds dormant or producing 1 pair of leaves); simple, sessile or subsessile;

blades ± 3-nerved distal to bases, elliptic to lance-elliptic, (30–)50–70 × 5–25 mm (lengths mostly 2–5 times widths), bases narrowly cuneate, margins usually serrate, apices acute, faces puberulent or villous, densely gland-dotted.

Florets

5;

corollas 3–3.5 mm.

5;

corollas 2.5–3 mm.

Phyllaries

8–10 in 2–3 series, oblong, 1–4 × 0.5–1.5 mm, (bases tapered) apices rounded to acute (not mucronate), abaxial faces pubescent throughout.

7–10 in 2–3 series, elliptic, 1–3 × 0.5–1 mm, apices rounded to acute (not mucronate), abaxial faces puberulent, gland-dotted.

Heads

in corymbiform arrays.

in corymbiform arrays.

Cypselae

2–3 mm;

pappi of 30–40 bristles 3.5–4 mm.

1.5–2 mm;

pappi of 30–40 bristles 2.5–3 mm.

2n

= 20, 30, 40.

= 20.

Eupatorium altissimum

Eupatorium semiserratum

Phenology Flowering Jul–Sep. Flowering Aug–Sep.
Habitat Clearings, open woods, thickets Moist to boggy, sandy, peaty soils, margins of pine flatwoods, gum swamps, bayheads, disturbed sites, roadsides
Elevation 20–400 m (100–1300 ft) 10–100+ m (0–300+ ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AL; AR; CT; FL; GA; IA; IL; IN; KS; KY; LA; MA; MD; MI; MN; MO; MS; NC; NE; NJ; NY; OH; OK; PA; SC; TN; TX; VA; WI; WV; ON
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from FNA
AL; AR; FL; GA; LA; MS; NC; SC; TN
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Eupatorium altissimum occurs in sexual diploid populations in the Ozark region of Missouri and Arkansas, and as apomictic polyploids elsewhere throughout its range. It occurs almost exclusively on limestone soils, where it is often accompanied by (and sometimes misidentified as) Brickellia eupatorioides, which has 10-ribbed cypselae and plumose pappus bristles. Eupatorium altissimum hybridizes with E. serotinum.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Eupatorium semiserratum has been included within E. glaucescens (E. cuneifolium); it is distinguished by its consistently smaller heads and stems that branch only within the capitulescences. It differs from the similar and sometimes sympatric E. lancifolium by its smaller heads, leaves 3-nerved distal to bases (rather than at bases), as well as preference for wetter habitats. It has been proposed that E. rotundifolium var. scabridum (E. pubescens) represents hybrids between E. semiserratum and E. rotundifolium; it also apparently hybridizes with E. hyssopifolium.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 21, p. 465. FNA vol. 21, p. 473.
Parent taxa Asteraceae > tribe Eupatorieae > Eupatorium Asteraceae > tribe Eupatorieae > Eupatorium
Sibling taxa
E. album, E. anomalum, E. cannabinum, E. capillifolium, E. compositifolium, E. godfreyanum, E. hyssopifolium, E. lancifolium, E. leptophyllum, E. leucolepis, E. linearifolium, E. mikanioides, E. mohrii, E. perfoliatum, E. petaloideum, E. pilosum, E. resinosum, E. rotundifolium, E. semiserratum, E. serotinum, E. sessilifolium, E. ×cordigerum, E. ×pinnatifidum
E. album, E. altissimum, E. anomalum, E. cannabinum, E. capillifolium, E. compositifolium, E. godfreyanum, E. hyssopifolium, E. lancifolium, E. leptophyllum, E. leucolepis, E. linearifolium, E. mikanioides, E. mohrii, E. perfoliatum, E. petaloideum, E. pilosum, E. resinosum, E. rotundifolium, E. serotinum, E. sessilifolium, E. ×cordigerum, E. ×pinnatifidum
Synonyms E. cuneifolium var. semiserratum
Name authority Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 2: 837. (1753) de Candolle: in A. P. de Candolle and A. L. P. P. de Candolle, Prodr. 5: 177. (1836)
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