Marshallia obovata (Walter) Beadle & F.E. Boynton var. obovata

Piedmont Barbara's Buttons; Spoon Shape Barbara's Buttons

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Piedmont Barbara's Buttons is an herbaceous perennial in the Aster family (Asteraceae). It occurs in eastern half of Alabama. Piedmont Barbara's Buttons occurs in rocky woods, in clearings in dry pine/oak woods, and on roadsides. It is a perennial with a tap root. Leaves form a basal rosette, and cauline (stem) leaves are few in number and reduced in size. Cauline leaves are alternate, petiolate or sessile, and only occur towards the base of the stems. Leaves are elliptic, oblanceolate, or spatulate in outline, entire, glabrous, and have three prominent veins. Flowers are produced in heads. Heads are solitary on long peduncles. Each head is subtended by green bracts with rounded tips that are not gland-dotted. Heads are composed of 15-25 five-lobed white disc flowers. Buds and newly opened flowers may occasionally be pinkish. The fruit is an achene. Piedmont Barbara's Buttons is occasionally available from wildflower nurseries. It prefers a well-draining soil and full sun. It can be used in rock gardens, along forest edges, or towards the front of perennial beds. It is low growing and not aggressive. Once established is drought tolerant, but deer browse can be a problem.—A. Diamond.

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Native

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