| Eurybia saxicastelli | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Genus: | Eurybia |
| Species: | E. saxicastelli |
| Binomial name | |
| Eurybia saxicastelli (J.N. Campbell & M. Medley)G.L.Nesom | |
| Synonyms | |
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Eurybia saxicastelli, commonly known as theRockcastle aster, is anherbaceousperennial native to the south easternUnited States. It is present only in the states ofKentucky andTennessee along theRockcastle River and the nearbyBig South Fork River. As a result of its extremely restricted range as well as human alterations to its habitat, it is considered critically imperiled byNatureServe. The flowers appear in the late summer through fall and haveray florets that are pale blue to pale white and yellowdisc florets that turn purplish with age.
Eurybia saxicastelli is present in the southeastern United States, where it is restricted to the states ofKentucky andTennessee. More specifically, it is only known from a 5 kilometer stretch of the banks of the Rockcastle River and about 14 occurrences along the Big South Fork River, which is nearby. It is found primarily growing at the back edge ofsandstone river bars composed of boulders and cobbles, along with other shrubby vegetation. These areas are flooded in the spring, but dry in the summer, making the habitat quite specific. Of the areas where it can be found, it is typically between 1000 and 1500 meters elevation, but in some cases it is found at sites as low as 600 meters.[1][2]
