Appalachian Joe Pye Weed, Steele's Eupatorium, Steele's Joe Pye Weed - Eutrochium steelei
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Eutrochium steelei - Appalachian Joe Pye Weed, Steele's Eupatorium, Steele's Joe Pye Weed.
There are only five species in the Eutrochium genus, Joe Pye Weed. These were previously classified in the Eupatorium genus (Thoroughworts.) The separating characteristics are the whorled leaves and purple-tinted flowers of Eutrochium, versus mostly opposite leaves and white flowers in the plants remaining in Eupatorium. Eutrochium was named Eupatoriadelphus until it was determined that the Eutrochium name had seniority.
Appalachian Joe Pye Weed, Eutrochium steelei, is the species in the genus with the narrowest distribution. A southern Appalachians endemic, it is found only in 5 southeastern states, in the mountains along the borders of Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee, and reports that it is Towns county in northernmost Georgia, although the presence in Georgia seems to be disputed. It is found in the Appalachian Mountains in hardwood forests up to about 5,000' elevation, blooming in late summer thru early fall. These photographs were taken near the Tennessee-North Carolina border along a mountainous dirt road, as indicated by the dust on the leaves.
Found in:
GA, KY, NC, TN, VA, GS
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Distribution of Eutrochium steelei in the United States and Canada:
Map courtesy of The Biota of North America Program.
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| | Site: North River Road, Monroe County, TN Date: 2017-August-24 | Photographer: Gerald C. Williamson
Nikon D7000
Tamron SP 90MM f/2.8 AF Macro | | The small flowers of Eutrochium steelei are in a somewhat domed (not flat-topped) inflorescence of loose arrays of several flower heads, each containing 4 to 7 pinkish or purplish florets. | | 
| | Site: North River Road, Monroe County, TN Date: 2017-August-24 | Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D7000 | | The flower heads of Eutrochium steelei each contain 4 to 7 pale pink to pale purple florets, as is also the case with similar E. purpureum. As with all Eutrochium, the style of each floret is divided into two strongly exserted, white, thread-like parts. | | Click on the photo for a larger image
| | Site: North River Road, Monroe County, TN Date: 2017-August-24 | Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D7000 | | Appalachian Joe Pye Weed grows up to about 6 feet tall with several whorls of usually 3 to 4 leaves. | | Click on the photo for a larger image
| | Site: North River Road, Monroe County, TN Date: 2017-August-24 | Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D7000 | | The leaves of Eutrochium steelei are in whorls of usually 3 or 4, but occasionally 5 or even only 2. They may abruptly or gradually narrow to petioles that are up to a bit over an inch long. | | Click on the photo for a larger image
| | Site: North River Road, Monroe County, TN Date: 2017-August-24 | Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D7000 | | The leaf of Appalachian Joe Pye Weed is sharply serrate and pinnately veined, and generally 2 to 2.5 times as long as wide, and may be up to about 12 inches long. | | Click on the photo for a larger image
| | Site: North River Road, Monroe County, TN Date: 2017-August-24 | Photographer: Gerald C Williamson | | While the green stems on these plants initially sent me in the direction of Eutrochium purpureum, since the stems of Eutrochium steelei are usually described as greenish-purple or purple, when I looked closer at the stem photographs, I discovered that they are not glabrous below the inflorescence - those of E. purpureum are glabrous below the inflorescence and glandular pubescent within the inflorescence. The stems of E. steelei are glandular-pubescent throughout. | | Click on the photo for a larger image
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References used for identification and information:
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