Spermatophytes (seed plants): Angiosperms (flowering plants): Eudicots: Core Eudicots: Asterids: Campanulids: Asterales
WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (2/10/25):
Anacis major
FAMILY
Asteraceae
Go to FSUS key
Dig deeper at SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria.
Read more about Coreopsis major at Vascular Plants of North Carolina.
The 2025 draft of Weakley's Flora does not recognize the two varieties, but offers this info: "Sometimes recognized in C. major are two varieties: var. major (with leaf blades rather densely short-pubescent, outer phyllaries rather densely short-pubescent, middle leaflet of median leaves 10-30mm wide, and leaflets herbaceous) and var. rigida (with leaf blades slightly short-pubescent to glabrous, outer phyllaries slightly short-pubescent to glabrous, middle leaflet of median leaves 5-10 (-12) mm wide, leaflets subcoriaceous and stiff). Variation and poor correlation of these features as stated and the presence of significant and apparently variation in other features requires additional study before a satisfying taxonomy can be presented." Read more by downloading the PDF.
Various authors have described several varieties of C. major. It is clear that there are two main forms. One has downy pubescent, thin leaves that are wide and another has narrower, leathery, thick leaves that are smooth. There are diploid and polyploid complexes within this group, and it is likely that several segregate taxa will one day be recognized as distinct. Read more in A Guide to the Wildflowers of South Carolina, 2nd ed..
SYNONYMOUS WITH
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Coreopsis major
FAMILY
Asteraceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH Floristic Synthesis of North America. BONAP (Kartesz, 2021)
Coreopsis major
SYNONYMOUS WITH Flora of North America north of Mexico, vol. 19-20-21 (2006)
Coreopsis major
INCLUDING Manual of Vascular Plants of NE US & Adjacent Canada (Gleason & Cronquist,1991)
Coreopsis major var. rigida
INCLUDING VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 179-69-009:
Coreopsis major var. major FAMILY Asteraceae
INCLUDING Vascular Flora of the Carolinas (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968)
Coreopsis major var. stellata
SYNONYMOUS WITH Manual of the Southeastern Flora (Small, 1933, 1938)
Coreopsis major
COMMON NAME:
Whorled Coreopsis, Woodland Coreopsis
To see larger pictures, click or hover over the thumbnails.
JK Marlow jkm200422_4029
April Greenville County SC
Tall Pines Wildlife Management Area
Coreopsis major var. rigida
JK Marlow jkm220409_6586
April Pickens County SC
Glassy Mountain Heritage Preserve
Coreopsis major var. rigida?
JK Marlow jkm120506_671b
May Oconee County SC
The recognition of [C. major] varieties is problematic and controversial, per Weakley's Flora (2015).
JK Marlow jkm120525_496
May Oconee County SC
Rays yellow and not (or inconspicuously) toothed; disc flowers yellow or red, per Vascular Flora of the Carolinas (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968).
JK Marlow jkm120525_499
May Oconee County SC
Coreopsis major var. rigida: Outer phyllaries slightly short-pubescent to glabrous, per Weakley's Flora (2015).
COMPARE
involucral bracts of Bidens and Coreopsis
JK Marlow jkm170527_047
May Abbeville County SC
Coreopsis major var. major: Outer phyllaries rather densely short-pubescent, per Weakley's Flora (2015).
JK Marlow jkm0506h_15
June Oconee County SC
Var. major is less common than var. stellata [rigida] and has pubescent stems & leaves, per Great Smoky Mountains Wildflowers (Campbell, Hutson, Sharp, & Hutson, 1962).
JK Marlow jkm140614_928
June Oconee County SC
The opposite paired leaves are so deeply cut they resemble 6 whorled leaves, per Great Smoky Mountains Wildflowers (Campbell, Hutson, Sharp, & Hutson, 1962).
COMPARE
leaves of Indian Cucumberroot, Starry Campion, Whorled Coreopsis and Loosestrife
JK Marlow jkm140614_990b
June Oconee County SC
Rays yellow and not (or inconspicuously) toothed; disc flowers yellow or red, per Vascular Flora of the Carolinas (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968).
JK Marlow jkm140614_993
June Oconee County SC
Coreopsis major var. major: Outer phyllaries rather densely short-pubescent, per Weakley's Flora (2015).
COMPARE
involucral bracts of Bidens and Coreopsis
JK Marlow jkm210626_1637
June Oconee County SC
Two varieties side by side: var. major in lower left; var. rigida upper right.
JK Marlow s040610_ab
June Greenville County SC
Roadside
The opposite paired leaves are so deeply cut they resemble 6 whorled leaves, per Great Smoky Mountains Wildflowers (Campbell, Hutson, Sharp, & Hutson, 1962).
COMPARE
leaves of Indian Cucumberroot, Starry Campion, Whorled Coreopsis and Loosestrife
JK Marlow jkm250723_1824
July Greenville County SC
Poinsett Bridge Heritage Preserve
Coreopsis major var. rigida
JK Marlow jkm250723_1825
July Greenville County SC
Poinsett Bridge Heritage Preserve
Coreopsis major var. rigida
JK Marlow jkm120812_427b
August Greenville County SC
Ashmore Heritage Preserve
Coreopsis major var. rigida: Outer phyllaries slightly short-pubescent to glabrous, per Weakley's Flora (2015).
JK Marlow jkm061029_020
October Oconee County SC
Sumter National Forest: Andrew Pickens Ranger District
Coreopsis major var. rigida: Stems and leaves glabrous, or essentially so, per Vascular Flora of the Carolinas (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968).
WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (2/10/25):
Anacis major
FAMILY
Asteraceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Coreopsis major
FAMILY
Asteraceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
Floristic Synthesis of North America. BONAP (Kartesz, 2021)
Coreopsis major
SYNONYMOUS WITH
Flora of North America north of Mexico, vol. 19-20-21
Coreopsis major
INCLUDING
Manual of Vascular Plants of NE US & Adjacent Canada (Gleason & Cronquist,1991)
Coreopsis major var. rigida
INCLUDING
VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 179-69-009:
Coreopsis major var. major
FAMILY
Asteraceae
INCLUDING
Vascular Flora of the Carolinas (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968)
Coreopsis major var. stellata
SYNONYMOUS WITH
Manual of the Southeastern Flora (Small, 1933, 1938)
Coreopsis major
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