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Species Account:  Chrysopsis highlandsensis DeLaney & Wunderlin (Asteraceae) (6/05)

Common Name: Highland’s Goldenaster

Distribution: On the Lake Wales Ridge mainly in Highlands County, Florida; also from extreme southern Polk County and off the Lake Wales Ridge in extreme northern Glades County.

Habitats:  According to DeLaney and Wunderlin (2002), almost entirely on xeric white sand habitats: sand pine scrub and scrubby flatwoods. They also describe the typical habitat as ecotonal between scrub and adjacent mesic habitats. A more recent rangewide status survey found it on a variety of white, gray, and yellow sands and on flatwoods soils, in sand pine scrub, scrubby flatwoods, and flatwoods, and on soils that could support rosemary scrub (Menges and Weekley 2005). In reality, most habitats are chronically or historically disturbed, including current sand roads, old roads, edges of firelanes, and previously grazed scrub.

Description:  Perennial, semelparous herb (“weak perennial”) with basal rosettes, a short stout taproot, and ascending flowering stems. Plant has a whitish green appearance due to dense lanate hairs (DeLaney and Wunderlin 2002). Leaf shape is variable within and among plants. Heads are yellow with several dozen ray and disk flowers. Fruit are typical composite achenes with a pappus adapted for wind dispersal.

Life History: Research in the ABS Plant Ecology Lab has documented that C. highlandsensis is largely semelparous. About 90% of flowering plants flower only once in their lifetime, usually dying shortly after flowering (Menges and Weekley 2005). Plants that survive after flowering usually flower in successive years. Flowering begins in the third year of life or later under field conditions.

Phenology:  Flowering peaks in November and December and fruit are matured beginning in December. Seed germination occurs mainly in the spring in lab, veranda, and field germination trials (Menges and Weekley 2005). Seedlings thus appear mainly in the spring. Vegetative plants appear active year-round. Reproductive stalks begin being evident in the summer.

Breeding System and Pollination: Little is known.

Genetics: Unpublished work by Laurie Walker of the University of South Florida shows that C. highlandsensis is reasonably distinct from other golden asters that appear morphologically similar.

Population Dynamics: Populations studied by the ABS Plant Ecology Lab have been stable to gradually declining. Survival rates are generally above 80% except when populations have many seedlings (Menges and Weekley 2005). Seedling survival is highly variable but in unfavorable conditions, perhaps dry weather, entire cohorts may perish. Population dynamics are not synchronized among sites, suggesting subtle weather variations or other factors may be drivers. Plants affected by moderate or high-intensity fires, such that plant parts are consumed, usually die (< 90% mortality; Menges and Weekley 2005). Plants merely scorched have lower mortality (about 70%).

Interesting Facts: Chrysopsis highlandsensis is not the only recently described golden aster. Botanist Kris DeLaney of Sebring has also described C. delaneyi, another Florida endemic (DeLaney et al. 2003). C. delaneyi grows both on and off the Lake Wales Ridge in central and southeastern Florida, and is found in sandhill habitats.

Data Collected by Archbold Biological Station’s Plant Ecology Lab: The Plant Ecology Lab has studied the demography of C. highlandsensis since 1999. We use quarterly censuses and have data from three major sites: Archbold Biological Station, Highlands Hammock State Park, and the Lake Wales Ridge State Forest. We have also conducted a rangewide status survey and several lab, veranda, and field germination experiments.

Data Availability: Contact Eric Menges for information.

Contact Person: Eric S. Menges

DeLaney, K.R. and R.P. Wunderlin. 2002. A new species of Chrysopsis (Asteraceae, Asterae) from central Florida. The Botanical Explorer 2: 1-20.

DeLaney, K.R., R.P. Wunderlin, and J.C. Semple. 2003. Chrysopsis delaneyi (Asteraceae, Asterae), another new species from peninsular Florida. The Botanical Explorer 3: 1-40.

Menges, E.S. and C.W. Weekley. 2005. Further demographic research on four state-listed Lake Wales Ridge endemic plants. Final Report to Endangered and Threatened Plant Conservation Grants Program Florida Division of Plant Industry.

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