Liatris scariosa
Liatris helleri
devil's bite, northern gayfeather
Heller's blazing star, Heller's gayfeather
puberulent (at least distally, sometimes glabrous proximally).
glabrous.
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.
basal and proximal cauline 1-nerved, spatulate-oblanceolate to narrowly lanceolate or oblanceolate-linear, (50–)60–100(–220) × 3–8(–15) mm (usually reaching at least level of heads), quickly to gradually reduced distal to midstems, essentially glabrous or sparsely pilose (abaxially), weakly, if at all, gland-dotted.
usually (ascending) 10–50 mm.
0.
campanulate to turbinate-campanulate, 11–15 × (12–)15–22(–25) mm.
turbinate-campanulate, 7–10 × 6–8(–10) mm.
19–80;
corolla tubes usually pilose inside, sometimes glabrous (Arkansas, Illinois, Missouri).
7–13(–17);
corolla tubes sparsely pilose inside.
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 3–4(–5) series, oblong, unequal, glabrous, margins with hyaline borders (0.2–0.4 mm wide), ciliolate, apices rounded.
in racemiform arrays.
in dense to loose, spiciform arrays.
4.5–6(–6.5) mm;
pappi: lengths ± equaling corollas, bristles barbellate.
(2.5–)3.5–5 mm;
pappi: lengths 1/3–2/3 or equaling corollas, bristles barbellate.
subglobose.
globose (sometimes knotty).
= 20.
Liatris scariosa
Liatris helleri
Varieties 3 (3 in the flora).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Liatris helleri has been regarded as a narrow endemic (of conservation concern) of high-elevation habitats in North Carolina, where it was recognized especially by a markedly shortened pappus; it has been reported (as L. turgida) from Alabama and Georgia (not confirmed in this study). With recognition that pappus length varies and leaves may be sparsely villous to nearly glabrous, the concept of L. helleri has been expanded (G. L. Nesom 2005b) to include plants identified in montane West Virginia and Virginia as L. turgida and L. graminifolia (e.g., M. J. Johnson 1971). Even in Virginia, the pappus sometimes is reduced to half the length of the corolla tube (e.g., Bedford Co., Freer 12226, NCU; Amherst Co., Freer 2007, NCU; Roanoke Co., Uttal 10883, NCU), and pappus length is variable in the North Carolina region of typical L. helleri, where the bristles characteristically are short (Avery, Burke, Caldwell, Mitchell, and Watauga counties). In exposed habitats (e.g., rock ledges, shale barrens), plants often are relatively short and the heads are relatively few and distantly spaced; in less exposed sites, plants may be taller and to 40 heads may be borne in a relatively dense array.
Liatris helleri is in the Center for Plant Conservation’s National Collection of Endangered Plants.
(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 |
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