Scaly Blazing Star

See discussion under 1. Liatris compacta.

Plants 30–80 cm. Corms globose to slightly elongate. Stems glabrous or puberulent-villous. Leaves: basal and proximal cauline 3–5-nerved, broadly linear to linear-oblanceolate, 70–220 × 2–12 mm (largest usually distal to proximalmost), gradually reduced distally, puberulent-villous or glabrous, weakly gland-dotted. Heads borne singly or (3–26) in loose, racemiform to spiciform arrays. Peduncles 0 or (spreading to ascending) 1–8(–20+) mm. Involucres cylindro-campanulate, 12–20(–25) × 7–10 mm. Phyllaries (usually erect, sometimes spreading-reflexing on the distal ¹/3) in 5–7 series, narrowly ovate-triangular and foliaceous (outer) to ovate or oblong-triangular, ± equal, glabrous or pubescent, margins without hyaline borders, stiffly to softly ciliate, apices acuminate to acute. Florets (10–)23–45(–60); corolla tubes glabrous inside (lobes adaxially hispid). Cypselae 4–5.5 mm; pappi: lengths ± equaling corollas, bristles plumose.

Serratula squarrosa Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 818. 1753; Lacinaria squarrosa (Linnaeus) Hill

Liatris squarrosa, commonly called the scaly blazingstar, is an herbaceous perennial plant native to eastern and central North America, with most populations in the Southeastern United States. It is a somewhat conservative species, often found in dry or rocky areas of native prairie and savanna vegetation. It produces purple flowerheads in the summer.

Liatris squarrosa is divided into distinct varieties which are sometimes treated as separate species. These are:

Liatris squarrosa var. glabrata - stems hairless; found in the Great Plains Liatris squarrosa var. squarrosa - stems pubescent; found in the eastern United States