Liatris punctata
Fl. Bor.-Amer. 1: 306, plate 105. 1833.
Plants 15–85 cm. Corms globose to depressed-globose or elongate, sometimes becoming simple or branched rhizomes. Stems glabrous. Leaves: basal and proximal cauline 1-nerved, linear, 50–140 × 1–7 mm, gradually or little reduced distally, essentially glabrous or sparsely piloso-hirsutulous, gland-dotted (margins sometimes ciliate). Heads in dense to loose, spiciform arrays. Involucres campanulate-cylindric, 7–15 × (4–)5–7 mm. Peduncles 0 or very rarely 1–2 mm. Phyllaries in 3–6 series, mostly oblong-obovate, unequal, essentially glabrous, margins without hyaline borders, sometimes ciliate, apices acute, acute-acuminate, obtuse, rounded, or rounded-truncate (often with indurate apicula or mucros, lateral veins usually not evident beyond middle or at least on distal 1/3). Florets 3–8; corolla tubes glabrous inside. Cypselae (5.5–)6–8.5 mm; pappi: lengths ± equaling corollas, bristles plumose.
Distribution
Alta., Man., Sask., Ark., Colo., Ill., Iowa, Kans., La., Mich., Minn., Mo., Mont., N.Dak., N.Mex., Nebr., Ohio, Okla., S.Dak., Tex., Wis., Wyo., n Mexico.
Discussion
Varieties 3 (3 in the flora).
Selected References
None.
Lower Taxa
Key
| 1 | Corms globose to depressed-globose; involucres 7–9(–12) mm; phyllaries in (4–)5–6 series; florets (3–)4–5(–6) | Liatris punctata var. mucronata |
| 1 | Corms elongate or becoming rhizomes; involucres 10–14 mm; phyllaries in 4(–5) series; florets 4–8 | > 2 |
| 2 | Heads in dense, spiciform arrays (closely spaced, stems usually obscured by heads) | Liatris punctata var. punctata |
| 2 | Heads in loose, spiciform arrays (widely spaced, stems evident) | Liatris punctata var. mexicana |