Ageratina aromatica, also known as lesser snakeroot and small-leaved white snakeroot, is a North American species of plants in the family Asteraceae. It is widespread and common across much of the eastern and southern United States from Louisiana to Massachusetts, as far inland as Kentucky and Ohio.[3][4]

Ageratina aromatica

Secure  (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Ageratina
Species:
A. aromatica
Binomial name
Ageratina aromatica
(L.) Spach
Synonyms[2]
Synonymy
  • Ageratina cordata (Walter) Spach
  • Eupatorium aromaticum L.
  • Eupatorium ceanothifolium Muhl. ex Willd.
  • Eupatorium cordatum Walter 1788 not Burm.f. 1768 nor Mutis 1958
  • Eupatorium cordiforme Poir.
  • Eupatorium engelmannianum Link ex Torr. & A.Gray
  • Eupatorium latidens Small
  • Eupatorium melissoides Willd.
  • Eupatorium nemorale Greene
  • Eupatorium tracyi Greene
  • Eupatorium viburnifolium Greene
  • Kyrstenia aromatica (L.) Greene
  • Kyrstenia ceanothifolia (Muhlenb.Willd.) Greene
  • Kyrstenia melissoides (Willd.) Greene
  • Kyrstenia nemoralis (Greene) Greene
  • Kyrstenia tracyi (Greene) Greene
  • Kyrstenia viburnifolia (Greene) Greene

Etymology

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Ageratina is derived from Greek meaning 'un-aging', in reference to the flowers keeping their color for a long time. This name was used by Dioscorides for a number of different plants.[5]

Ecology

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The lesser snakeroot lives in woodlands as a perennial in early successional gap habitats created by fires or fallen trees. It is often found near rocky outcroppings.[6]

Conservation

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A. aromatica is listed as endangered in New York.[7]

Taxonomy

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A variety incisum from Florida and Virginia has been described.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b NatureServe (1 December 2023). "Ageratina aromatica". NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data accessed through NatureServe Explorer. Arlington, Virginia: NatureServe. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  2. ^ "Ageratina aromatica". The Global Compositae Checklist (GCC) – via The Plant List. Note that this website has been superseded by World Flora Online
  3. ^ Nesom, Guy L. (2006). "Ageratina aromatica". In Flora of North America Editorial Committee (ed.). Flora of North America North of Mexico (FNA). Vol. 21. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press – via eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
  4. ^ "Ageratina aromatica". County-level distribution map from the North American Plant Atlas (NAPA). Biota of North America Program (BONAP). 2014.
  5. ^ Gledhill, David (2008). "The Names of Plants". Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521866453 (hardback), ISBN 9780521685535 (paperback). pp 39
  6. ^ Craine, Stephen I. (March 2003). New England Plant Conservation Program: Ageratina aromatica (L.) Spach Lesser Snakeroot Conservation and Research Plan for New England (PDF) (Report). Framingham, Massachusetts: New England Wild Flower Society. Retrieved 27 December 2023 – via nativeplanttrust.org.
  7. ^ Young, Stephen M. (6 September 2012). "Online Conservation Guide for Ageratina aromatica var. aromatica". New York Natural Heritage Program. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
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