Liatris laevigata
Liatris patens
clusterleaf gayfeather, shortleaf blazing star
Georgia gayfeather, spreading blazing star, spreading gayfeather
glabrous.
moderately to densely strigoso-hirtellous.
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, narrowly oblanceolate to linear-oblanceolate, 90–180 × 2–4(–7) mm, gradually or abruptly reduced distally, essentially glabrous (proximal margins sparsely ciliate).
(ascending) 1–7 mm.
(divergent-ascending, initially diverging at angles of 45–90°) 10–25(–30) mm.
turbinate-campanulate, 5–7 × 4–5 mm.
turbinate-campanulate, (5–)6–7.5 × 5–7 mm.
3–5;
corolla tubes glabrous inside.
7–12;
corolla tubes pilose inside.
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 (2–)3–4(–5) series, broadly obovate (outer) to broadly oblong-obovate, strongly unequal, sparsely strigoso-villous (outer) or essentially glabrous, margins with (pinkish purple) hyaline borders, sometimes slightly erose, usually densely ciliate, apices rounded to subtruncate.
in compact, racemiform arrays.
in loose, (columnar) racemiform arrays.
2.5–4 mm;
pappi: lengths ± equaling corollas, bristles barbellate.
2.5–2.8 mm;
pappi: lengths equaling or surpassing corollas, bristles barbellate.
globose.
globose to depressed-globose.
Liatris laevigata
Liatris patens
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.)
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