Liatris scariosa
devil's bite, northern gayfeather
puberulent (at least distally, sometimes glabrous proximally).
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.
usually (ascending) 10–50 mm.
campanulate to turbinate-campanulate, 11–15 × (12–)15–22(–25) mm.
19–80;
corolla tubes usually pilose inside, sometimes glabrous (Arkansas, Illinois, Missouri).
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.
in racemiform arrays.
4.5–6(–6.5) mm;
pappi: lengths ± equaling corollas, bristles barbellate.
subglobose.
Liatris scariosa
Varieties 3 (3 in the flora).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
1. Stems with 8–20(–25) leaves or leafy bracts proximal to heads; florets 20–40(–50) | 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) | var. nieuwlandii |
2. Proximal cauline leaves mostly 7–20(–26) mm wide, glabrous or hirtello-puberulent (weakly, if at all, gland-dotted) | var. novaeangliae |
IL Wildflowers
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