Chrysopsis, commonly called golden asters, is a genus of annual and perennial herbs in the family Asteraceae (order Asterales), native to the southern and eastern United States. The genus is centred on Florida, where all accepted species occur, with some extending into adjacent states.
Plants produce daisy-like flower heads with yellow disc florets and typically yellow ray florets, giving them a bright, golden appearance characteristic of the common name. The flowers are borne on leafy, often hairy stems that range from low-growing annuals to more robust perennials depending on species.
The circumscription of Chrysopsis has changed substantially over time. Many taxa formerly placed here have been transferred to related genera, including Heterotheca, Pityopsis, Stenotus, Ionactis, Machaeranthera, and others, leaving a smaller, more tightly defined genus concentrated in the southeastern United States.
Chrysopsis species serve as larval food plants for several Lepidoptera. Schinia petulans, a specialist moth, feeds exclusively on Chrysopsis subulata, illustrating the ecological specificity that can develop between native plants and their associated insects.
Distribution
Chrysopsis is native to the southern and eastern United States. All accepted species are found in Florida; some range into neighbouring states of the southeastern coastal plain.
Ecology
Golden asters are larval food plants for several Lepidoptera species. Schinia petulans, a specialist moth in the family Noctuidae, feeds exclusively on Chrysopsis subulata, reflecting the tight ecological relationships that can form between narrowly endemic plants and their insect associates.
Taxonomy Notes
Chrysopsis has undergone significant taxonomic revision. Numerous species once included in the genus have been moved to related genera in the tribe Astereae, including Heterotheca, Pityopsis, Stenotus, Ionactis, Aster, Eucephalus, Erigeron, Machaeranthera, Croptilon, Xanthisma, Oclemena, Bradburia, Oxypappus, Arnica, and Helichrysopsis. The circumscription of Chrysopsis in its current, narrower sense is centred on Florida endemics.
