Marshallia obovata (Walter) Beadle & F.E. Boynton var. obovata. Common name: Piedmont Barbara's-buttons, Spoon-leaved Barbara's-buttons, Piedmont Marshallia. Phenology: Late Apr-May (-early Jun). Habitat: Clay flats, woodland borders, dry woodlands, sandy riverbanks. Distribution: Sc. VA south to se. TN (Chester, Wofford, & Kral 1997), sw. GA, Panhandle FL, and c. AL, primarily in the Piedmont.
Origin/Endemic status: Endemic
Synonymy ⓘ: = C, G, K4, RAB, SE1, Va, Channell (1957), Watson & Estes (1990), Weakley & Poindexter (2012); Athanasia obovata Walter = Marshallia obovata (Walter) Beadle & F.E.Boynton var. platyphylla (M.A.Curtis) Beadle & F.E.Boynton — F, Beadle & Boynton (1901); < Marshallia obovata (Walter) Beadle & F.E.Boynton — Fl7, FNA21, S, Tn, W, WH3. Basionym: Athanasia obovata Walter 1788
Links to other floras: < Marshallia obovata - FNA21
Show parent genus | Show parent in key(s)
Heliophily ⓘ: 8
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© Alan Cressler: Marshallia obovata var. obovata, Coosa Valley Prairies, Floyd County, Georgia 1 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
© Alan Weakley source
© Alan Weakley source
© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
© Emily Oglesby | Original Image ⭷
© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
© Alan Weakley source
© Alan Weakley source
© Alan Weakley source
© Alan Weakley source
© Alan Weakley sourceFeedback
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect, sometimes colonial perennial of clay flats, woodland borders and dry woodlands.
Stems: Stems often striate, unbranched, leafless above.
Leaves: Leaves occupy only the bottom quarter of the plant and are alternate, petiolate or sessile, oblong-ovate to spatula-shaped, 1-7 in. long and smooth.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Composite flowers (heads) solitary at stem tips; heads about 1 in. wide, consisting of 20 or more white (rarely pinkish), 5-lobed disk florets. Green bracts with bluntly rounded tips surround the base of each head; these are not gland-dotted.
Fruits:
Comments:
Height: 1-2 ft.
plant sale text: In The Natural Gardens of North Carolina B.W. Wells described Barbaras-buttons as a good choice "for the sunny rock garden". This sun loving, drought tolerant perennial is both lovely and tough but its short stature and fine details make it more suitable for a setting where it will not be overwhelmed by taller plants and where its lacy flowers can be admired up close. This composite is made up of all disc flowers (there are no rays). Their tiny white petals give each button-shaped flower head its lacy appearance
bloom table text: In The Natural Gardens of North Carolina B.W. Wells described Barbaras-buttons as a good choice "for the sunny rock garden". This sun loving, drought tolerant perennial is both lovely and tough but its short stature and fine details make it more suitable for a setting where it will not be overwhelmed by taller plants and where its lacy flowers can be admired up close. This composite is made up of all disc flowers (there are no rays). Their tiny white petals give each button-shaped flower head its lacy appearance
description: Erect, sometimes colonial perennial of clay flats, woodland borders and dry woodlands.
stems: Stems often striate, unbranched, leafless above.
leaves: Leaves occupy only the bottom quarter of the plant and are alternate, petiolate or sessile, oblong-ovate to spatula-shaped, 1-7 in. long and smooth.
inflorescence:
flowers: Composite flowers (heads) solitary at stem tips; heads about 1 in. wide, consisting of 20 or more white (rarely pinkish), 5-lobed disk florets. Green bracts with bluntly rounded tips surround the base of each head; these are not gland-dotted.
fruits:
comments:
cultural notes:
germination code: 2
native range: southeastern United States
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