Stokesia laevis
Stokesia laevis was first described by John Hill in 1768 in Hortus Kewensis as Carthamus laevis. Then, in 1789, L'Heritier described the genus Stokesia, and Edward Greene renamed the species Stokesia laevis in 1893 in the journal Erythea.
It is the only species belonging to the genus Stokesia.
Stokesia laevis was originally thought to have a chromosome number of n = 9. (Jones, 1968.) In a later paper, however, Jones revised the number to n = 7 following studies by Gunn and White, postulating that Stokesia and Vernonia may have shared a common genome in the past. (Jones, 1974.)
Genetic analysis of three generations of Stokesia laevis populations suggests that the flower color is controlled by at least three loci involved with the synthesis of anthocyanins, flavonoids and other pigments. (Barb, Werner & Griesbach. 2008.)
Stokesia laevis has a medium growth rate.
Kingdom Plantae
Subkingdom Tracheobionta
Superdivision Spermatophyta
Division Magnoliophyta
Class Magnoliopsida
Subclass Asteridae
Order Asterales
Family Asteraceae
Tribe Vernonieae
Subfamily Tubiliflorae
Genus Stokesia
Species laevis
According to Wodehouse, Stokesia laevis has echinolophate pollen with surface ridges and prominent spines. (Skvarla, DeVore & Chissoe, 2005.)
Stokesia laevis contains epoxy fatty acids in its seed oil, contributing its economic and agricultural importance. (Kleiman, 1990.)
Stokesia laevis attracts a variety of bees, flies, and butterflies, as well as a few species of bird.
Stokesia laevis is found in the southeastern United States. It grows from Louisiana east to the Atlantic coast, and south to the tip of Florida.
For more information, see the map provided by Flora of North America. (Strother, 2006.)
Open woodlands, coastal plains and bogs
Perennial
Autotroph
Flowers June to September
Stokesia laevis is used in gardens as an ornamental or an insect attractant. Its ability to produce epoxy fatty acids may be of economic importance in the future, especially as renewable sources are more sought after.