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smallflower eupatorium, smallflower thoroughwort

round-leaf boneset, round-leaf thoroughwort, roundleaf eupatorium

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

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

(from short rhizomes) single, sparsely branched distally, puberulent.

Leaves

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.

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

sessile or subsessile;

blades ± 3-nerved, usually ± deltate to orbiculate, sometimes ovate, 15–50(–70) × 15–40(–60) mm (lengths mostly 1–2 times widths), bases broadly rounded to truncate, margins crenate to serrate, apices acute, faces puberulent to villous, gland-dotted.

Florets

5;

corollas 2.5–3 mm.

5;

corollas 3–4 mm.

Phyllaries

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

8–10 in 2–3 series, elliptic to oblanceolate, 2–6 × 0.5–1.5 mm, apices acute, abaxial faces puberulent, gland-dotted.

Heads

in corymbiform arrays.

in corymbiform arrays.

Cypselae

1.5–2 mm;

pappi of 30–40 bristles 2.5–3 mm.

2–3 mm;

pappi of 30–40 bristles 3.5–4 mm.

2n

= 20.

Eupatorium semiserratum

Eupatorium rotundifolium

Phenology Flowering Aug–Sep.
Habitat Moist to boggy, sandy, peaty soils, margins of pine flatwoods, gum swamps, bayheads, disturbed sites, roadsides
Elevation 10–100+ m (0–300+ ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AL; AR; FL; GA; LA; MS; NC; SC; TN
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AL; AR; CT; DC; DE; FL; GA; IN; KY; LA; MA; MD; MO; MS; NC; NH; NJ; NY; OH; OK; PA; RI; SC; TN; TX; VA; WV
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

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.)

Varieties 3 (3 in the flora).

Eupatorium rotundifolium is one of the more variable species of the genus; its apparent propensity to hybridize with other species has led it to be described as a compilospecies and has complicated its delimitation. Hybrids with E. perfoliatum and E. sessilifolium are sufficiently distinctive to be treated here as distinctive entities (E. ×cordigerum and E. godfreyanum, respectively), and the varieties ovatum and scabridum have also been proposed to be of hybrid origin. The boundaries between varieties are indistinct and individual specimens may be difficult to place with confidence.

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

Key
1. Leaf blades 3-nerved from bases, bases subtruncate to broadly cuneate, margins crenate
var. rotundifolium
1. Leaf blades 3-nerved distal to bases, bases broadly cuneate to cuneate, margins serrate
→ 2
2. Leaf blades 30–70 × 30–60 mm, broadest nearmiddles
var. ovatum
2. Leaf blades 20–50 × 15–30 mm, broadest nearbases
var. scabridum
Source FNA vol. 21, p. 473. FNA vol. 21, p. 472.
Parent taxa Asteraceae > tribe Eupatorieae > Eupatorium Asteraceae > tribe Eupatorieae > Eupatorium
Sibling taxa
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
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. semiserratum, E. serotinum, E. sessilifolium, E. ×cordigerum, E. ×pinnatifidum
Subordinate taxa
E. rotundifolium var. ovatum, E. rotundifolium var. rotundifolium, E. rotundifolium var. scabridum
Synonyms E. cuneifolium var. semiserratum
Name authority de Candolle: in A. P. de Candolle and A. L. P. P. de Candolle, Prodr. 5: 177. (1836) Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 2: 837. (1753)
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