North Carolina Wildflowers, Shrubs, & Trees

by Jeffrey S. Pippen | Back to Jeff's Plant Page | Jeff's Nature Pages


Asteraceae > Pityopsis (silkgrass, golden-asters)

Taylor County Goldaster, Sandhills Goldenaster, Pineleaf Golden-aster, (Pityopsis pinifolia) Taylor County Goldaster, Sandhills Goldenaster, Pineleaf Golden-aster (Pityopsis pinifolia)
Scotland Co., NC
1 Oct 2006

Uncommon to locally common but not widespread in the NC sandhills and coastal plain.

Taylor County Goldaster, Sandhills Goldenaster, Pineleaf Golden-aster, (Pityopsis pinifolia) Taylor County Goldaster, Sandhills Goldenaster, Pineleaf Golden-aster (Pityopsis pinifolia)
Scotland Co., NC
1 Oct 2006

Taylor County Goldaster, Sandhills Goldenaster, Pineleaf Golden-aster, (Pityopsis pinifolia) Taylor County Goldaster, Sandhills Goldenaster, Pineleaf Golden-aster (Pityopsis pinifolia)
Scotland Co., NC
1 Oct 2006

Taylor County Goldaster, Sandhills Goldenaster, Pineleaf Golden-aster, (Pityopsis pinifolia) Taylor County Goldaster, Sandhills Goldenaster, Pineleaf Golden-aster (Pityopsis pinifolia)
Scotland Co., NC
1 Oct 2006

Leaves are reminiscent of conifer needles.


Pineland Silkgrass (Pityopsis aspera) Pineland Silkgrass (Pityopsis aspera)
Scotland Co., NC
1 Oct 2006

Most common in the eastern half of NC, Pityopsis aspera was formerly classified as Heterotheca adenolepis.

Pineland Silkgrass (Pityopsis aspera) Pineland Silkgrass (Pityopsis aspera)
Scotland Co., NC
1 Oct 2006
Pineland Silkgrass (Pityopsis aspera) Pineland Silkgrass (Pityopsis aspera)
Scotland Co., NC
1 Oct 2006

silkgrass (Pityopsis sp.) Pineland Silkgrass (Pityopsis aspera)
New Hanover Co., NC
26 Aug 2006

While the above P. aspera was growing in the sandhills, this one is growing in the lower coastal plain and looks a bit different.

silkgrass (Pityopsis sp.) Pineland Silkgrass (Pityopsis aspera)
New Hanover Co., NC
26 Aug 2006

silkgrass (Pityopsis sp.) Pineland Silkgrass (Pityopsis aspera)
New Hanover Co., NC
26 Aug 2006

silkgrass (Pityopsis sp.) Pineland Silkgrass (Pityopsis aspera)
New Hanover Co., NC
26 Aug 2006


Smallhead Silkgrass (Pityopsis microcephala)
Holly Shelter, Pender Co., NC
4 Oct 2018

Some authorities treat this as a variety or subspecies of Pityopsis graminifolia.

Smallhead Silkgrass (Pityopsis microcephala)
Holly Shelter, Pender Co., NC
4 Oct 2018
Smallhead Silkgrass (Pityopsis microcephala)
Holly Shelter, Pender Co., NC
4 Oct 2018
Smallhead Silkgrass (Pityopsis microcephala)
Holly Shelter, Pender Co., NC
4 Oct 2018
Smallhead Silkgrass (Pityopsis microcephala)
Holly Shelter, Pender Co., NC
4 Oct 2018


Annotated habitat and distribution information listed above is from Radford, Ahles, & Bell. 1968. Manual of the Vascular Flora of the Carolinas. UNC Press; Alan Weakley's Flora of the Carolinas, Virginia, and Georgia; and from personal observations and discussions with Will Cook, Harry LeGrand, and Bob Wilbur. Supplemental resources include USDA plants website, and NatureServe.


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Created on ... Sep 6, 2006 | jeffpippen9@gmail.com