Liatris squarrosa

(Linnaeus) Michaux

Fl. Bor.-Amer. 2: 92. 1803.

Common names: Loosescale gayfeather colicroot
IllustratedEndemic
Basionym: Serratula squarrosa Linnaeus Sp. Pl. 2: 818. 1753
Synonyms: Lacinaria squarrosa (Linnaeus) Hill
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 21. Treatment on page 517. Mentioned on page 513, 518, 535.

Plants 30–80 cm. Corms globose to slightly elongate. Stems glabrous or puberulent-villous. Leaves: basal and proximal cauline 3–5-nerved, broadly linear to linear-oblanceolate, 70–220 × 2–12 mm (largest usually distal to proximalmost), gradually reduced distally, puberulent-villous or glabrous, weakly gland-dotted. Heads borne singly or (3–26) in loose, racemiform to spiciform arrays. Peduncles 0 or (spreading to ascending) 1–8(–20+) mm. Involucres cylindro-campanulate, 12–20(–25) × 7–10 mm. Phyllaries (usually erect, sometimes spreading-reflexing on the distal 1/3) in 5–7 series, narrowly ovate-triangular and foliaceous (outer) to ovate or oblong-triangular, ± equal, glabrous or pubescent, margins without hyaline borders, stiffly to softly ciliate, apices acuminate to acute. Florets (10–)23–45(–60); corolla tubes glabrous inside (lobes adaxially hispid). Cypselae 4–5.5 mm; pappi: lengths ± equaling corollas, bristles plumose.

Distribution

V21-1305-distribution-map.gif

Ala., Colo., Del., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kans., Ky., La., Md., Mich., Mo., N.C., Nebr., Ohio, Okla., S.C., Tenn., Tex., Va., W.Va.

Discussion

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).

See discussion under 1. Liatris compacta.

Selected References

None.

Key

1 Stems glabrous; leaves glabrous; phyllariesglabrous Liatris squarrosa var. glabrata
1 Stems usually puberulent-strigose (hairs soft, upturned or appressed); leaves sparsely pilose to glabrescent; phyllaries usually ciliate, faces glabrousor pubescent Liatris squarrosa var. squarrosa
... more about "Liatris squarrosa"
Guy L. Nesom +
(Linnaeus) Michaux +
Serratula squarrosa +
Loosescale gayfeather +  and colicroot +
Ala. +, Colo. +, Del. +, Fla. +, Ga. +, Ill. +, Ind. +, Iowa +, Kans. +, Ky. +, La. +, Md. +, Mich. +, Mo. +, N.C. +, Nebr. +, Ohio +, Okla. +, S.C. +, Tenn. +, Tex. +, Va. +  and W.Va. +
Fl. Bor.-Amer. +
Illustrated +  and Endemic +
Lacinaria squarrosa +
Liatris squarrosa +
species +