Liatris laevigata |
Liatris gracilis |
|
---|---|---|
clusterleaf gayfeather, shortleaf blazing star |
slender blazing star, slender gayfeather |
|
Habit | Plants 40–180 cm. | Plants 20–100 cm. |
Stems | glabrous. |
puberulent to piloso- or strigoso-puberulent. |
Leaves | basal and proximal cauline (mostly arising from congested nodes) 1-nerved, lance-linear to linear, 100–380 × (1–)2–6(–9) mm, abruptly reduced distally, glabrous (minutely white-dotted by stomates), weakly, if at all, gland-dotted (glandular hairs usually not evident). |
basal and proximal cauline 1-nerved, usually linear to linear-oblanceolate or oblanceolate, sometimes narrowly spatulate, 50–150 × 2–8(–10) mm, gradually or abruptly reduced on distal 1/2–1/3 of stems, essentially glabrous (proximal margins ciliate). |
Peduncles | (ascending) 1–7 mm. |
0 or (usually straight, stiffly spreading to ascending) 2–10(–12) mm. |
Involucres | turbinate-campanulate, 5–7 × 4–5 mm. |
cylindro-campanulate, (4–)4.5–6(–7) × 3–4(–5) mm. |
Florets | 3–5; corolla tubes glabrous inside. |
3–6(–9); corolla tubes pilose inside. |
Phyllaries | in 2–3(–4) series, lanceolate to oblong or elliptic-oblong, unequal, essentially glabrous, margins with hyaline borders, apices usually rounded-retuse and minutely involute-cuspidate to apiculate. |
in 3(–4) series, (green to purple) ovate to oblong, strongly to weakly unequal, sparsely puberulent, margins with hyaline borders, ciliolate, apices rounded to truncate. |
Heads | in compact, racemiform arrays. |
in loose, racemiform arrays. |
Cypselae | 2.5–4 mm; pappi: lengths ± equaling corollas, bristles barbellate. |
3–3.5 mm; pappi: lengths ± equaling corollas, bristles barbellate. |
Corms | globose. |
globose to subglobose. |
2n | = 20. |
|
Liatris laevigata |
Liatris gracilis |
|
Phenology | Flowering Aug–Oct(–Nov). | Flowering (Jul–)Aug–Oct(–Nov). |
Habitat | Sand ridges and flats, roadsides, pine woods, sand pine-scrub, longleaf pine-scrub oak | Longleaf pine, slash pine, palmetto-scrub oak, turkey oak-bluejack oak, sand scrub, sand ridges, uplands, boggy flatwoods, sandy peat, fencerows, roadsides, woodland edges |
Elevation | 0–100 m (0–300 ft) | 10–50 m (0–200 ft) |
Distribution |
FL; GA
|
AL; FL; GA; MS; SC
|
Discussion | R. P. Wunderlin (1998) treated Liatris laevigata and L. tenuifolia as varieties in one species; A. Cronquist (1980, p. 207) also treated them within one species, as “two well-marked but wholly confluent geographic vars.” They have been noted to grow intermixed in Osceola County, Florida (L. laevigata, Ray et al. 10472, NCU; L. tenuifolia, Ray et al. 10423, NCU). Unequivocal intermediates have not been seen in the present study. With the observation of consistent morphologic differences in habit, vestiture, and leaf punctation, and their broad sympatry in Florida, it seems appropriate to recognize them at specific rank. Liatris laevigata is restricted to peninsular Florida and immediately adjacent Georgia (e.g., Floyd’s Island, Charlton County, Cypert 240, SMU). Leaf width is markedly variable, and collections of narrow-leaved forms sometimes have been identified as L. tenuifolia. Narrow-leaved forms of L. laevigata apparently are more common in southern Florida (Collier, Dade, Glades, Lee, Monroe, Okeechobee, Palm Beach, and Polk counties). Broader-leaved plants apparently tend to have larger corms, which may be related to age or habitat. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Plants of Liatris gracilis from the panhandle of Florida and the southern tier of Alabama counties tend to have sharply acute phyllaries; intermediates are often encountered. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Source | FNA vol. 21, p. 526. | FNA vol. 21, p. 531. |
Parent taxa | Asteraceae > tribe Eupatorieae > Liatris | Asteraceae > tribe Eupatorieae > Liatris |
Sibling taxa | ||
Synonyms | Lacinaria laevigata, L. tenuifolia var. laevigata, L. tenuifolia var. quadriflora | Lacinaria gracilis, Lacinaria laxa |
Name authority | Nuttall: Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc., n. s. 7: 285. (1840) | Pursh: Fl. Amer. Sept. 2: 508. (1813) |
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