Chaptalia tomentosa Vent. - Woolly Sunbonnets, Pineland Daisy
Family - Asteraceae
Pubescence of the flowering scape.
Abaxial side of ray ligules.
Flowering - February - April.
Habitat - Wet pine flatwoods, bogs, savannahs.
Origin - Native to North America.
Other information - This attractive species can be found in the most southern counties of Alabama. The plant is easy to identify becasue of its habitat, spatulate-oblong basal leaves (which are tomentose-lanose below), and the ray ligules (which are white above and pink below).
The species epithet tomentosa derives from the Latin "toment" meaning "dense hair, stuffing" referring to the hairs of the flowering scape and leaves.
The genus name Chaptalia is given in honor of Jean Antoine Chaptal (1756-1832). Chaptal was a French chemist and industrialist. In 1781 he became professor of chemistry at Montpellier in southern France near the Gulf of Lions. He was involved with gunpowder production during the French revolution. Chaptal held such posts as minister of the interior and director-general of commerce and manufactures under Napoleon I where he introduced modern reforms in medicine, industry, and public works. He was seen as a pioneer in introducing chemical principles to industrial processes.
Photographs taken in Conecuh National Forest, AL., 2-26-05.