Liatris spicata

(Linnaeus) Willdenow

Sp. Pl. 3: 1636. 1803.

Common names: Florist or marsh gayfeather
Endemic
Basionym: Serratula spicata Linnaeus Sp. Pl. 2: 819. 1753
Synonyms: Lacinaria spicata (Linnaeus) Kuntze
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 21. Treatment on page 523. Mentioned on page 514, 524, 525, 535.

Plants (20–)40–110(–180) cm. Corms globose to slightly elongate. Stems glabrous. Leaves: basal and lower cauline 3–5-nerved, narrowly oblong-lanceolate to narrowly spatulate-oblanceolate, 120–350 × (2–)4–10(–20) mm (sometimes becoming more densely arranged distally), usually gradually reduced distally, essentially glabrous or sparsely villous, weakly gland-dotted (glandular hairs often not evident, bases of basal often fibrous-persistent). Heads in dense to loose, spiciform arrays. Peduncles usually 0, rarely 1–2 mm. Involucres turbinate-cylindric to turbinate-campanulate, 7–11 × 4–6 mm. Phyllaries in (3–)4–5 series, ovate to oblong, unequal, essentially glabrous, margins with hyaline borders, sometimes ciliolate, apices rounded to obtuse. Florets (4–)5–8(–14); corolla tubes glabrous inside. Cypselae (3.5–)4.5–6 mm; pappi: lengths ± equaling corollas, bristles barbellate.

Distribution

V21-1326-distribution-map.gif

Ont., Que., Ala., Ark., Conn., Del., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ind., Ky., La., Mass., Md., Mich., Miss., Mo., N.C., N.J., N.Y., Ohio, Pa., S.C., Tenn., Va., W.Va., Wis.

Discussion

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).

Liatris spicata is sold as cut flowers. It also is commonly sold as a garden plant in various genetic permutations (probably derived from var. spicata, perhaps from L. lancifolia) and it apparently escapes cultivation. Reports from Arkansas, Connecticut, and Quebec probably reflect plants growing in or escaped from gardens.

A geographic disjunction within Liatris spicata occurs between the coastal plain element (var. resinosa) and the inland/montane element (var. spicata), although plants morphologically referable to var. resinosa occasionally are encountered in montane North Carolina and Tennessee and var. spicata-like plants occur in the range of var. resinosa. Apparent intergrades between the two taxa are common, especially in Tennessee and Alabama. The geographical gap is widest in Georgia and Alabama. Neither variety occurs naturally west of the Mississippi River, except for a historical record of var. spicata in Oregon County, Missouri (Kellogg s.n., MO), where the population has now been genetically “swamped” by L. pycnostachya (G. A. Yatskievych, pers. comm.).

In both var. spicata and var. resinosa, marked variation (dimorphism) in head size occurs, the large-headed plants apparently occurring in scattered geographic enclaves without a broader geographic pattern. It seems possible that independent populational origins of polyploidy might underlie the variation.

Selected References

None.

Key

1 Leaves: basal and proximal cauline (2–)4–8 mm wide (cauline usually abruptly reduced in size near midstem, continuing distally as linear, bractlike leaves); involucres 7–9 mm; phyllaries purplish to greenish; florets 5–6(–8); coastal plain Liatris spicata var. resinosa
1 Leaves: basal and proximal cauline 4–10(–20) mm wide (cauline usually gradually reduced in size distally); involucres (7–)8–11 mm; phyllaries usually greenish; florets (4–)6–8(–12); montaneand inland Liatris spicata var. spicata
... more about "Liatris spicata"
Guy L. Nesom +
(Linnaeus) Willdenow +
Serratula spicata +
Florist or marsh gayfeather +
Ont. +, Que. +, Ala. +, Ark. +, Conn. +, Del. +, Fla. +, Ga. +, Ill. +, Ind. +, Ky. +, La. +, Mass. +, Md. +, Mich. +, Miss. +, Mo. +, N.C. +, N.J. +, N.Y. +, Ohio +, Pa. +, S.C. +, Tenn. +, Va. +, W.Va. +  and Wis. +
Lacinaria spicata +
Liatris spicata +
species +