Table of Contents
Overview
Comprehensive Description
Comments
The flowerheads and foliage of this wildflower are quite attractive. Most members of the Aster family with dandelion-like flowerheads (including other Krigia spp. in Illinois) have yellow ray florets, but the ray florets of Two-Flowered Cynthia often have an orange tint. Two-Flowered Cynthia has larger flowerheads (1' across or more), longer floral bracts (1/3' or more), and its achenes have more bristly hairs (20 or more) than either Krigia virginica or Krigia caespitosa (both annuals). Another species, Krigia dandelion (Potato Dandelion) has unbranched flowering stalks that each produce a single flowerhead. In contrast, Two-Flowered Cynthia has flowering stalks that branch above their uppermost cauline leaves, each stalk producing 2-5 flowerheads on separate peduncles.
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Hilty, J. Editor. 2013. Illinois Wildflowers. World Wide Web electronic publication. flowervisitors.info, version 04/2013.
See: Botanical Terminology and Line Drawings, Ecological Terminology, Website Description, Links to Other Websites, Reference Materials
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Description
This native perennial wildflower consists of a rosette of basal leaves, from which a flowering stalk about 1-2' tall is produced. The basal leaves are up to 7' long and 2' across; they are pale green to green, hairless, and oblanceolate or obovate in shape. Their margins are smooth, undulate, slightly dentate, or slightly pinnatifid. The flowering stalk is pale green, hairless, glaucous, terete, and erect. There are 1-2 cauline leaves on the flowering stalk that are ovate in shape and smooth or dentate along their margins. Where the uppermost cauline leaf occurs, the stalk branches into 2-5 ascending peduncles. Each peduncle terminates in a yellow or orange-yellow flowerhead about 1–1½' across. Each flowerhead has many spreading ray florets and no disk florets. Each ray floret is narrowly oblong and yellow or orange-yellow; it has a truncate tip with 5 small teeth. The base of the flowerhead is surrounded by several floral bracts in a single series; each bract is pale green, linear-lanceolate, hairless, glaucous, and about 1/3' in length or a little longer. The blooming period can occur from late spring to mid-summer and lasts about a month. Later in the year, the ray florets are replaced by small achenes. Each achene is bullet-shaped and truncate at the apex, where it has a tuft of white hairs. The achenes are distributed by the wind. The root system consists of a thickened crown with fibrous roots.
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Hilty, J. Editor. 2013. Illinois Wildflowers. World Wide Web electronic publication. flowervisitors.info, version 04/2013.
See: Botanical Terminology and Line Drawings, Ecological Terminology, Website Description, Links to Other Websites, Reference Materials
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Illinois Wildflowers
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Distribution
Range and Habitat in Illinois
Two-Flowered Cynthia is occasional to locally common throughout Illinois (see Distribution Map). Habitats include open upland woodlands, open sandy woodlands, savannas and sandy savannas, rocky wooded slopes, thinly wooded bluffs, areas along woodland paths, rocky glades, and upland meadows. Two-Flowered Cynthia is often found in upland habitats where Oaks are dominant in areas with thin leaf cover and sparse ground vegetation.
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Hilty, J. Editor. 2013. Illinois Wildflowers. World Wide Web electronic publication. flowervisitors.info, version 04/2013.
See: Botanical Terminology and Line Drawings, Ecological Terminology, Website Description, Links to Other Websites, Reference Materials
© John Hilty
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Localities documented in Tropicos sources
Cynthia viridis Standl.:
Mexico (Mesoamerica)
Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.
Mexico (Mesoamerica)
Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.
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SPECIMEN BASED RECORD. Published protolog data.
http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/9990002
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Localities documented in Tropicos sources
Cynthia virginica (L.) D. Don:
Canada (North America)
United States (North America)
Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.
Canada (North America)
United States (North America)
Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.
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Small, J. K. 1933. Man. S.E. Fl. i–xxii, 1–1554. Published by the Author, New York.
http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1515
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Localities documented in Tropicos sources
Krigia biflora fo. biflora :
Canada (North America)
United States (North America)
Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.
Canada (North America)
United States (North America)
Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.
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Fernald, M. 1950. Manual (ed. 8) i–lxiv, 1–1632. American Book Co., New York.
http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1327
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Localities documented in Tropicos sources
Krigia biflora (Walter) S.F. Blake:
Canada (North America)
United States (North America)
Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.
Canada (North America)
United States (North America)
Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.
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Anonymous. 1986. List-Based Rec., Soil Conserv. Serv., U.S.D.A. Database of the U.S.D.A., Beltsville.
http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1103
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Gleason, H. A. 1968. The Sympetalous Dicotyledoneae. vol. 3. 596 pp. In H. A. Gleason Ill. Fl. N. U.S. (ed. 3). New York Botanical Garden, New York.
http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1707
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Radford, A. E., H. E. Ahles & C. R. Bell. 1968. Man. Vasc. Fl. Carolinas i–lxi, 1–1183. University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill.
http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/636
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Great Plains Flora Association. 1986. Fl. Great Plains i–vii, 1–1392. University Press of Kansas, Lawrence.
http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/637
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Cronquist, A. J. 1980. Asteraceae. 1: i–xv, 1–261. In Vasc. Fl. S.E. U. S. The University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill.
http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1714
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National Distribution
United States
Origin: Unknown/Undetermined
Regularity: Regularly occurring
Currently: Unknown/Undetermined
Confidence: Confident
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National Distribution
Canada
Origin: Unknown/Undetermined
Regularity: Regularly occurring
Currently: Unknown/Undetermined
Confidence: Confident
United States
Origin: Unknown/Undetermined
Regularity: Regularly occurring
Currently: Unknown/Undetermined
Confidence: Confident
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National Distribution
Canada
Origin: Native
Regularity: Regularly occurring
Currently: Present
Confidence: Confident
Type of Residency: Year-round
United States
Origin: Native
Regularity: Regularly occurring
Currently: Present
Confidence: Confident
Type of Residency: Year-round
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Physical Description
Morphology
Description
Perennials, 10–70 cm; caudices stout, fibrous-rooted (sometimes propagating by adventitious buds on roots). Stems 1–5+, erect, scapiform, eglandular or glandular-villous distally. Leaves mostly basal (rosettes), some cauline (proximal); petioles ± winged; blades oblance-olate to obovate or spatulate, 5–25 cm, margins entire or remotely dentate to pinnately lobed, lobes narrow to bluntly triangular or rounded, apices acute to obtuse or rounded, faces glabrous. eglandular (usually glaucous); cauline 1–4, sessile, lanceolate, bases sheathing or auriculate-clasping, usually entire, distalmost sometimes reduced, bractlike. Heads (2–)3–20+. Peduncles usually in groups of 2–6 from axils of single or paired distal cauline bracts. Involucres 7–11 mm. Phyllaries 8–18, reflexed in fruit. lanceolate, midveins obscure, apices acute, faces glabrous. Florets 25–60; corollas orange or yellow-orange, 15–25 mm. Cypselae reddish brown, columnar, 2–2.5 mm, 12–15-ribbed; pappi of ca. 10 outer scales 0.3–0.5 mm plus 20–40, barbellulate inner bristles 4.5–5.5 mm. 2n = 10, 20.
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Diagnostic Description
Synonym
Hyoseris biflora Walter, Fl. Carol., 194. 1788; Cynthia virginica (Linnaeus) D. Don ex de Candolle; C. viridis Standley; H. amplexicaulis Michaux; Krigia amplexicaulis (Michaux) Nuttall; K. biflora var. viridis (Standley) K. J. Kim; Tragopogon virginicus Linnaeus
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Type Information
Holotype for Cynthia viridis Standl.
Catalog Number: US 498744
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Botany
Verification Degree: Verified from the card file of type specimens
Preparation: Pressed specimen
Collector(s): P. C. Standley
Year Collected: 1908
Locality: Near Cowles, Pecas [Pecos?] River National Forest., San Miguel, New Mexico, United States, North America
Elevation (m): 2400 to 2400
Catalog Number: US 498744
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Botany
Verification Degree: Verified from the card file of type specimens
Preparation: Pressed specimen
Collector(s): P. C. Standley
Year Collected: 1908
Locality: Near Cowles, Pecas [Pecos?] River National Forest., San Miguel, New Mexico, United States, North America
Elevation (m): 2400 to 2400
- Holotype: Standley, P. C. 1911. Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 13: 357.
© Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Botany
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Isoneotype for Hyoseris biflora Walter
Catalog Number: US 1927088
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Botany
Verification Degree: ; Status verified from secondary sources
Preparation: Pressed specimen
Collector(s): A. J. Cronquist
Year Collected: 1947
Locality: Moist rocky banks near the Flint River, 4 mi. SE. of Woodbury., Upson, Georgia, United States, North America
Catalog Number: US 1927088
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Botany
Verification Degree: ; Status verified from secondary sources
Preparation: Pressed specimen
Collector(s): A. J. Cronquist
Year Collected: 1947
Locality: Moist rocky banks near the Flint River, 4 mi. SE. of Woodbury., Upson, Georgia, United States, North America
- Isoneotype: Walter, T. Fl. Caroliniana. 194.; Ward, D. B. 2008. J. Bot. Res. Inst. Texas. 2 (1): 478.
© Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Botany
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Holotype for Cynthia falcata Standl.
Catalog Number: US 415971
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Botany
Verification Degree: Verified from the card file of type specimens
Preparation: Pressed specimen
Collector(s): B. A. Barlow
Year Collected: 1901
Locality: Turin., Michigan, United States, North America
Catalog Number: US 415971
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Botany
Verification Degree: Verified from the card file of type specimens
Preparation: Pressed specimen
Collector(s): B. A. Barlow
Year Collected: 1901
Locality: Turin., Michigan, United States, North America
- Holotype: Standley, P. C. 1911. Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 13: 356.
© Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Botany
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Isotype for Krigia biflora f. glandulifera Fernald
Catalog Number: US 1651653
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Botany
Preparation: Pressed specimen
Collector(s): M. L. Fernald & A. S. Pease
Year Collected: 1934
Locality: Humboldt., Marquette, Michigan, United States, North America
Catalog Number: US 1651653
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Botany
Preparation: Pressed specimen
Collector(s): M. L. Fernald & A. S. Pease
Year Collected: 1934
Locality: Humboldt., Marquette, Michigan, United States, North America
- Isotype: Fernald, M. L. 1935. Rhodora. 37: 337.
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Ecology
Habitat
Range and Habitat in Illinois
Two-Flowered Cynthia is occasional to locally common throughout Illinois (see Distribution Map). Habitats include open upland woodlands, open sandy woodlands, savannas and sandy savannas, rocky wooded slopes, thinly wooded bluffs, areas along woodland paths, rocky glades, and upland meadows. Two-Flowered Cynthia is often found in upland habitats where Oaks are dominant in areas with thin leaf cover and sparse ground vegetation.
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Hilty, J. Editor. 2013. Illinois Wildflowers. World Wide Web electronic publication. flowervisitors.info, version 04/2013.
See: Botanical Terminology and Line Drawings, Ecological Terminology, Website Description, Links to Other Websites, Reference Materials
© John Hilty
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Illinois Wildflowers
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Associations
Faunal Associations
The flowerheads attract long-tongued bees (bumblebees, honeybees, Little Carpenter bees, Cuckoo bees, Mason bees), short-tongued bees (Halictid bees, Masked bees), predatory wasps, flies (Syrphid, Tachinid, & others), butterflies, skippers, and beetles. These insects suck nectar, collect pollen, or feed on pollen from the flowerheads. An oligolectic visitor, Andrena krigiana (Krigia Andrenid Bee), is specifically attracted to the flowerheads of Krigia spp. Thus far, I have not observed any evidence that White-Tailed Deer feed on the foliage of Two-Flowered Cynthia, which contains a bitter white latex, although I would not rule out this possibility. Photographic Location
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Hilty, J. Editor. 2013. Illinois Wildflowers. World Wide Web electronic publication. flowervisitors.info, version 04/2013.
See: Botanical Terminology and Line Drawings, Ecological Terminology, Website Description, Links to Other Websites, Reference Materials
© John Hilty
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Illinois Wildflowers
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Flower-Visiting Insects of Two-Flowered Cynthia in Illinois
Krigia biflora (Two-Flowered Cynthia)
(Also referred to as False Dandelion; bees collect pollen or suck nectar; beetles feed on pollen & are non-pollinating; other insects suck nectar; observations are from Robertson)
Bees (long-tongued)
Apidae (Apinae): Apis mellifera sn cp fq; Apidae (Bombini): Bombus fraternus sn, Bombus griseocallis sn, Bombus pensylvanica sn; Anthophoridae (Ceratinini): Ceratina dupla dupla sn cp fq; Anthophoridae (Epeolini): Epeolus interruptus sn; Anthophoridae (Eucerini): Synhalonia speciosa sn fq; Anthophoridae (Nomadini): Nomada affabilis sn fq, Nomada articulata sn fq, Nomada illinoiensis sn, Nomada superba superba sn fq; Megachilidae (Coelioxini): Coelioxys octodentata sn; Megachilidae (Megachilini): Megachile brevis brevis sn; Megachilidae (Osmiini): Hoplitis pilosifrons sn fq, Osmia georgica sn cp, Osmia pumila sn; Megachilidae (Stelidini): Stelis lateralis sn
Bees (short-tongued)
Halictidae (Halictinae): Agapostemon virescens sn cp, Augochlorella aurata sn cp fq, Augochlorella striata sn cp fq, Halictus confusus, Halictus ligatus sn cp fq, Halictus parallelus sn, Halictus rubicunda sn, Lasioglossum albipennis sn cp fq, Lasioglossum coreopsis sn cp, Lasioglossum pectoralis sn cp, Lasioglossum pilosus pilosus sn cp fq, Lasioglossum truncatus (MH), Lasioglossum versatus sn cp fq; Colletidae (Colletinae): Colletes aestivalis sn cp; Colletidae (Hylaeinae): Hylaeus affinis fp, Hylaeus mesillae sn fp; Andrenidae (Andreninae): Andrena krigiana sn cp fq olg
Wasps
Sphecidae (Crabroninae): Lestica confluentus; Sphecidae (Sphecinae): Ammophila kennedyi, Ammophila pictipennis; Vespidae (Eumeninae): Euodynerus foraminatus, Leionotus scrophulariae, Leionotus ziziae, Stenodynerus ammonia, Stenodynerus anormis fq, Stenodynerus histrionalis
Flies
Syrphidae: Eristalis arbustorum, Eristalis dimidiatus, Eristalis stipator, Eristalis tenax, Eristalis transversus, Helophilus fasciatus, Helophilus latifrons, Sphaerophoria contiqua, Toxomerus marginatus fq, Tropidia mamillata; Conopidae: Thecophora occidensis, Zodion fulvifrons; Tachinidae: Cylindromyia euchenor, Gymnoclytia immaculata, Gymnoclytia occidua; Muscidae: Neomyia cornicina; Fanniidae: Fannia manicata fq
Butterflies
Nymphalidae: Phyciodes tharos; Pieridae: Colias philodice; Papilionidae: Papilio polyxenes asterias
Skippers
Hesperiidae: Polites peckius
Beetles
Chrysomelidae: Diabrotica undecimpunctata fp np fq; Coccinellidae: Coleomegilla maculata fp np; Languriidae: Languria mozardi fp np fq
Plant Bugs
Lygaeidae: Lygaeus turcicus
(Also referred to as False Dandelion; bees collect pollen or suck nectar; beetles feed on pollen & are non-pollinating; other insects suck nectar; observations are from Robertson)
Bees (long-tongued)
Apidae (Apinae): Apis mellifera sn cp fq; Apidae (Bombini): Bombus fraternus sn, Bombus griseocallis sn, Bombus pensylvanica sn; Anthophoridae (Ceratinini): Ceratina dupla dupla sn cp fq; Anthophoridae (Epeolini): Epeolus interruptus sn; Anthophoridae (Eucerini): Synhalonia speciosa sn fq; Anthophoridae (Nomadini): Nomada affabilis sn fq, Nomada articulata sn fq, Nomada illinoiensis sn, Nomada superba superba sn fq; Megachilidae (Coelioxini): Coelioxys octodentata sn; Megachilidae (Megachilini): Megachile brevis brevis sn; Megachilidae (Osmiini): Hoplitis pilosifrons sn fq, Osmia georgica sn cp, Osmia pumila sn; Megachilidae (Stelidini): Stelis lateralis sn
Bees (short-tongued)
Halictidae (Halictinae): Agapostemon virescens sn cp, Augochlorella aurata sn cp fq, Augochlorella striata sn cp fq, Halictus confusus, Halictus ligatus sn cp fq, Halictus parallelus sn, Halictus rubicunda sn, Lasioglossum albipennis sn cp fq, Lasioglossum coreopsis sn cp, Lasioglossum pectoralis sn cp, Lasioglossum pilosus pilosus sn cp fq, Lasioglossum truncatus (MH), Lasioglossum versatus sn cp fq; Colletidae (Colletinae): Colletes aestivalis sn cp; Colletidae (Hylaeinae): Hylaeus affinis fp, Hylaeus mesillae sn fp; Andrenidae (Andreninae): Andrena krigiana sn cp fq olg
Wasps
Sphecidae (Crabroninae): Lestica confluentus; Sphecidae (Sphecinae): Ammophila kennedyi, Ammophila pictipennis; Vespidae (Eumeninae): Euodynerus foraminatus, Leionotus scrophulariae, Leionotus ziziae, Stenodynerus ammonia, Stenodynerus anormis fq, Stenodynerus histrionalis
Flies
Syrphidae: Eristalis arbustorum, Eristalis dimidiatus, Eristalis stipator, Eristalis tenax, Eristalis transversus, Helophilus fasciatus, Helophilus latifrons, Sphaerophoria contiqua, Toxomerus marginatus fq, Tropidia mamillata; Conopidae: Thecophora occidensis, Zodion fulvifrons; Tachinidae: Cylindromyia euchenor, Gymnoclytia immaculata, Gymnoclytia occidua; Muscidae: Neomyia cornicina; Fanniidae: Fannia manicata fq
Butterflies
Nymphalidae: Phyciodes tharos; Pieridae: Colias philodice; Papilionidae: Papilio polyxenes asterias
Skippers
Hesperiidae: Polites peckius
Beetles
Chrysomelidae: Diabrotica undecimpunctata fp np fq; Coccinellidae: Coleomegilla maculata fp np; Languriidae: Languria mozardi fp np fq
Plant Bugs
Lygaeidae: Lygaeus turcicus
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Hilty, J. Editor. 2013. Insect Visitors of Illinois Wildflowers. World Wide Web electronic publication. illinoiswildflowers.info, version (05/2013)
See: Abbreviations for Insect Activities, Abbreviations for Scientific Observers, References for behavioral observations
© John Hilty
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Molecular Biology and Genetics
Molecular Biology
Statistics of barcoding coverage: Krigia biflora
Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 0
Specimens with Barcodes: 3
Species With Barcodes: 1
Public Records: 0
Specimens with Barcodes: 3
Species With Barcodes: 1
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Conservation
Conservation Status
NatureServe Conservation Status
Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure
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National NatureServe Conservation Status
United States
Rounded National Status Rank: NNR - Unranked
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NatureServe Conservation Status
Rounded Global Status Rank: TNR - Not Yet Ranked
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National NatureServe Conservation Status
Canada
Rounded National Status Rank: NNR - Unranked
United States
Rounded National Status Rank: NNR - Unranked
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NatureServe Conservation Status
Rounded Global Status Rank: T5 - Secure
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National NatureServe Conservation Status
Canada
Rounded National Status Rank: N2 - Imperiled
United States
Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure
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Relevance to Humans and Ecosystems
Benefits
Cultivation
The preference is partial or dappled sunlight and mesic to dry conditions. Different kinds of soil are tolerated, including those containing loam, clay-loam, sand, or rocky material. Water-logged sites should be avoided.
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Hilty, J. Editor. 2013. Illinois Wildflowers. World Wide Web electronic publication. flowervisitors.info, version 04/2013.
See: Botanical Terminology and Line Drawings, Ecological Terminology, Website Description, Links to Other Websites, Reference Materials
© John Hilty
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Illinois Wildflowers
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Notes
Comments
Krigia biflora is known from the Eastern deciduous forest biome, tallgrass prairie, Rocky Mountain forest, and Madrean woodlands. It appears to spread clonally by adventitious buds on the roots. It is related to the more leafy-stemmed, freely branching K. montana (K. J. Kim and B. L. Turner 1992); their habital differences are less clear where they are sympatric in the southern Appalachians. An alloploid hybrid between them has become established (see 3. K. montana).
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