Smallhead Blazing Star

Plants 30–80 cm. Corms globose (fibrous roots often densely covering whole structure). Stems glabrous. Leaves: basal and proximal cauline 1-nerved, linear to linear-lanceolate, 80–200 × 1–3(–4, –6) mm, gradually reduced or abruptly reduced on distal ¹/2 of stems, essentially glabrous. Heads in loose to dense, spiciform arrays (internodes to 8 mm). Peduncles 0 or (ascending) 1–12 mm. Involucres turbinate-cylindric, 5–7(–9) × 3–4 mm. Phyllaries in 3–4 series, oblong to oblong-obovate, strongly unequal, essentially glabrous, margins with hyaline borders, apices rounded. Florets 4–5(–6); corolla tubes glabrous inside. Cypselae 3–3.5 mm; pappi: lengths ± ¹/2 corollas, bristles barbellate. 2n = 20, 60.

Lacinaria microcephala Small, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 25: 473. 1898; L. polyphylla Small

Liatris microcephala, known by the common names smallhead blazing star and smallhead gayfeather, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is native to the Southeastern United States, primarily to regions of the Cumberland Plateau and Piedmont. It is found growing on exposed acidic rock such as sandstone or granite, as well as in open sandy areas. It is a perennial and flowers in late summer.