Liatris scariosa

(Linnaeus) Willdenow

Sp. Pl. 3: 1635. 1803.

Common names: Northern gayfeather
Endemic
Basionym: Serratula scariosa Linnaeus Sp. Pl. 2: 818. 1753
Synonyms: Lacinaria scariosa (Linnaeus) Hill
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 21. Treatment on page 532. Mentioned on page 517, 534.

Plants 30–150 cm. Corms subglobose. Stems puberulent (at least distally, sometimes glabrous proximally). Leaves: basal and proximal cauline 1-nerved, elliptic- to oblanceolate-spatulate, 120–300 × 25–50(–55) mm, abruptly, gradually, or little reduced distally, essentially glabrous, weakly, if at all, gland-dotted. Heads in racemiform arrays. Peduncles usually (ascending) 10–50 mm. Involucres campanulate to turbinate-campanulate, 11–15 × (12–)15–22(–25) mm. Phyllaries in (3–)4–5 series, (erect or outer sometimes spreading-reflexing) oblong-obovate to broadly obovate (not bullate), unequal, glabrous or minutely puberulent, margins usually with relatively narrow, hyaline borders, apices broadly rounded. Florets 19–80; corolla tubes usually pilose inside, sometimes glabrous (Arkansas, Illinois, Missouri). Cypselae 4.5–6(–6.5) mm; pappi: lengths ± equaling corollas, bristles barbellate.

Distribution

V21-1353-distribution-map.gif

Ark., Conn., Ill., Ind., Maine, Mass., Md., Mich., Mo., N.C., N.H., N.J., N.Y., Ohio, Pa., R.I., Tenn., Va., W.Va., Wis.

Discussion

Varieties 3 (3 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Key

1 Stems with 8–20(–25) leaves or leafy bracts proximal to heads; florets 20–40(–50) Liatris scariosa var. scariosa
1 Stems with 20–85 leaves or leafy bracts proximal to heads; florets 30–80. > 2
2 Proximal cauline leaves mostly 25–50(–55) mm wide, hirtello-puberulent (and gland-dotted) Liatris scariosa var. nieuwlandii
2 Proximal cauline leaves mostly 7–20(–26) mm wide, glabrous or hirtello-puberulent (weakly, if at all, gland-dotted) Liatris scariosa var. novaeangliae