Liatris pycnostachya

Michaux

Fl. Bor.-Amer. 2: 91. 1803.

Common names: Prairie or cattail gayfeather
Endemic
Synonyms: Lacinaria pycnostachya (Michaux) Kuntze
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 21. Mentioned on page 514, 524, 525, 535.

Plants (40–)60–120(–180) cm. Corms globose, sometimes becoming elongate rhizomes. Stems glabrous or densely piloso-puberulent. Leaves: basal and proximal cauline 3–5-nerved, linear to narrowly oblanceolate or oblanceolate, 110–220 × 4–10(–12) mm, gradually then abruptly reduced distally (bractlike proximal to heads), essentially glabrous or sparsely pilose to densely piloso-puberulent, weakly gland-dotted (bases of basal usually fibrous-persistent). Heads in dense, spiciform arrays. Peduncles usually 0, rarely (spreading to ascending) 1–2 mm. Involucres campanulate-cylindric, 7–9(–10) × 3.5–5 mm. Phyllaries (reflexed or curving-spreading) in 4–5 series, oblong-lanceolate, unequal, essentially glabrous or ± pilose, margins with hyaline borders, sometimes ciliate, apices usually acute to acute-acuminate (sometimes distally dilated, nearly petaloid). Florets (4–)5–8; corolla tubes glabrous inside. Cypselae 3.8–4.5(–5) mm; pappi: lengths ± equaling corollas, bristles barbellate.

Distribution

V21-1329-distribution-map.gif

Ark., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kans., Ky., La., Mass., Mich., Minn., Miss., Mo., N.Dak., N.J., N.Y., Nebr., Ohio, Okla., Pa., S.Dak., Tex., Wis.

Discussion

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Key

1 Corms globose; stems usually glabrous or sparsely pilose except near heads (where sparsely piloso-puberulent); leaves glabrous Liatris pycnostachya var. pycnostachya
1 Corms globose to elongate; stems moderately to densely piloso-puberulent; leaves moderately to densely piloso-puberulent to nearly glabrous Liatris pycnostachya var. lasiophylla
... more about "Liatris pycnostachya"
Guy L. Nesom +
Michaux +
Prairie or cattail gayfeather +
Ark. +, Ill. +, Ind. +, Iowa +, Kans. +, Ky. +, La. +, Mass. +, Mich. +, Minn. +, Miss. +, Mo. +, N.Dak. +, N.J. +, N.Y. +, Nebr. +, Ohio +, Okla. +, Pa. +, S.Dak. +, Tex. +  and Wis. +
Fl. Bor.-Amer. +
Lacinaria pycnostachya +
Liatris pycnostachya +
species +