''Liatris'' (), commonly known as gayfeather and blazing star is a genus of

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (). The term angiosperm is derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek words (; 'container, vessel') and (; 'seed'), meaning that the seeds are enclosed with ...

s in the tribe

Eupatorieae Eupatorieae is a Tribe (biology), tribe of over 2000D.J.N.Hind & H.E.Robinson. 2007. Tribe Eupatorieae In: ''The Families and Genera of Vascular Plants'' vol.VIII. (Joachim W.Kadereit & Charles Jeffrey, volume editors. Klaus Kubitzky, general edi ...

within the family

Asteraceae Asteraceae () is a large family (biology), family of flowering plants that consists of over 32,000 known species in over 1,900 genera within the Order (biology), order Asterales. The number of species in Asteraceae is rivaled only by the Orchi ...

native to

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere, Northern and Western Hemisphere, Western hemispheres. North America is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South Ameri ...

(Canada, United States, Mexico and

the Bahamas The Bahamas, officially the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, is an Archipelagic state, archipelagic and island country within the Lucayan Archipelago of the Atlantic Ocean. It contains 97 per cent of the archipelago's land area and 88 per cent of ...

). Some species are used as

ornamental plant Ornamental plants or ''garden plants'' are plants that are primarily grown for their beauty but also for qualities such as scent or how they shape physical space. Many flowering plants and garden varieties tend to be specially bred cultivars th ...

s, sometimes in

flower bouquet A flower bouquet is a collection of Flower, flowers in a creative arrangement. Flower bouquets can be arranged for the decor of homes or public buildings or may be handheld. Several popular shapes and styles classify handheld bouquets, including no ...

s. They are perennials, surviving the winter and resprouting from underground

corm Corm, bulbo-tuber, or bulbotuber is a short, vertical, swollen, underground plant stem that serves as a storage organ that some plants use to survive winter or other adverse conditions such as summer drought and heat (perennation). The word ''c ...

s. ''Liatris'' species are used as food plants by the

larva A larva (; : larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into their next life stage. Animals with indirect development such as insects, some arachnids, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase ...

e of some

Lepidoptera Lepidoptera ( ) or lepidopterans is an order (biology), order of winged insects which includes butterflies and moths. About 180,000 species of the Lepidoptera have been described, representing 10% of the total described species of living organ ...

species such as

moth Moths are a group of insects that includes all members of the order Lepidoptera that are not Butterfly, butterflies. They were previously classified as suborder Heterocera, but the group is Paraphyly, paraphyletic with respect to butterflies (s ...

s of the genus ''

Schinia ''Schinia'', commonly called flower moths, is a large genus of moths belonging to the family Noctuidae The Noctuidae, commonly known as owlet moths, cutworms or armyworms, are a family (biology), family of moths. Taxonomically, they are consid ...

''.

Classification

''Liatris'' is in the tribe

of the aster family. Like other members of this tribe, the flower heads have

disc floret Asteraceae () is a large family of flowering plants that consists of over 32,000 known species in over 1,900 genera within the order Asterales. The number of species in Asteraceae is rivaled only by the Orchidaceae, and which is the larger fa ...

s and no

ray floret Asteraceae () is a large family of flowering plants that consists of over 32,000 known species in over 1,900 genera within the order Asterales. The number of species in Asteraceae is rivaled only by the Orchidaceae, and which is the larger fam ...

s. ''Liatris'' is in the subtribe Liatrinae along with ''

Trilisa ''Trilisa'' is a genus of flowering plants in the tribe Eupatorieae within the family Asteraceae. Some taxonomists group ''Trilisa'' and '' Litrisa'' into the genus ''Carphephorus''. ; Species * '' Trilisa odoratissima'' (J.F.Gmel.) Cass. - Lou ...

'', ''

Carphephorus ''Carphephorus'' is a genus of North American plants in the family Asteraceae. They are native to the southeastern United States from Louisiana to Virginia. Plants of this genus are known commonly as chaffheads. ''Liatris'' is closely related to ''

Garberia ''Garberia'' is a monotypic taxon, monotypic genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae, containing the single species ''Garberia heterophylla''.endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...

Florida Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...

. The two genera can be distinguished by the

shrub A shrub or bush is a small to medium-sized perennial woody plant. Unlike herbaceous plants, shrubs have persistent woody stems above the ground. Shrubs can be either deciduous or evergreen. They are distinguished from trees by their multiple ...

form of the latter and by

karyotype A karyotype is the general appearance of the complete set of chromosomes in the cells of a species or in an individual organism, mainly including their sizes, numbers, and shapes. Karyotyping is the process by which a karyotype is discerned by de ...

Species

Species in the genus include:Flann, C (ed) 2009+ Global Compositae Checklist
GRIN Species Records of ''Liatris''.
GRIN.Turner, B. L. 1997. The Comps of Mexico: A systematic account of the family Asteraceae, vol. 1 – Eupatorieae. Phytologia Memoirs 11: i–iv, 1–272 * ''

Liatris acidota ''Liatris acidota'', also known as the Gulf Coast gayfeather, sharp blazing star and sharp gayfeather, is a plant species in the family Asteraceae and genus ''Liatris''. It is native to Louisiana and Texas in the United States, where it is found ...

'' – sharp blazing star, Gulf Coast blazing star - TX LA * ''

Liatris aestivalis ''Liatris aestivalis'', also known as the summer gayfeather, is a plant species in the family Asteraceae and genus ''Liatris''. The specific epithet, ''aestivalis'', is derived from Latin and means "pertaining to the summer". Description It grow ...

'' – summer blazing star - TX OK * ''

Liatris aspera ''Liatris aspera'' (known as rough blazing star, button blazing star, lacerate blazing star, tall prairie blazing star, or tall gayfeather) is a perennial wildflower in the Asteraceae family that is found in central to eastern North America in ha ...

'' – tall blazing star - ONT, United States (

Mississippi Valley The Mississippi River is the main stem, primary river of the largest drainage basin in the United States. It is the second-longest river in the United States, behind only the Missouri River, Missouri. From its traditional source of Lake Ita ...

Great Lakes The Great Lakes, also called the Great Lakes of North America, are a series of large interconnected freshwater lakes spanning the Canada–United States border. The five lakes are Lake Superior, Superior, Lake Michigan, Michigan, Lake Huron, H ...

, scattered locales in East) * ''

Liatris borealis ''Liatris'' (), commonly known as gayfeather and blazing star is a genus of flowering plants in the tribe Eupatorieae within the family Asteraceae native to North America (Canada, United States, Mexico and the Bahamas). Some species are used ...

'' -

Allegheny Mountains The Allegheny Mountain Range ( ) — also spelled Alleghany or Allegany, less formally the Alleghenies — is part of the vast Appalachian Mountain Range of the Eastern United States and Canada. Historically it represented a significant barr ...

of PA * '' Liatris × boykinii'' - GA AL * ''

Liatris bracteata ''Liatris bracteata'', commonly known as the bracted blazing star, or South Texas gayfeather, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is native to Texas in the United States, where it is found in coastal prairies, roadsides, ...

'' – bracted blazing star - TX * ''

Liatris chapmanii ''Liatris chapmanii'', also known as Chapman's blazing star or Chapman's gayfeather, is a plant species in the family Asteraceae. It is native to Alabama, Florida and Georgia in the United States The United States of America (USA), also kn ...

'' – Chapman's blazing star - FL GA AL * ''

Liatris cokeri ''Liatris cokeri'', also known as Coker's gayfeather and sandhills blazing star (a name it shares with ''Liatris pilosa''), is a plant species in the family Asteraceae and genus ''Liatris''. It is native to North and South Carolina in the United ...

'' – Coker's blazing star - NC SC * '' Liatris compacta'' – scaly blazing star - AR OK * '' Liatris creditonensis'' - ONT * '' Liatris cylindracea'' – Ontario blazing star, fewhead blazing star - ONT, central + southeastern United States * ''

Liatris cymosa ''Liatris cymosa'' (also known as Aggie-land gayfeather, branched gayfeather, or branched blazing star) is a plant species in the family Asteraceae and genus ''Liatris''. It is native to east central Texas in North America, where it is found in ...

'' – branched blazing star - TX * '' Liatris × deamii'' * ''

Liatris densispicata ''Liatris'' (), commonly known as gayfeather and blazing star is a genus of flowering plants in the tribe Eupatorieae within the family Asteraceae native to North America (Canada, United States, Mexico and the Bahamas). Some species are used ...

'' - MN * '' Liatris elegans'' – pinkscale blazing star, elegant blazing star - TX OK AR LA MS AL FL GA SC * '' Liatris elegantula'' – shaggy blazing star - TN MS AL GA FL * '' Liatris fallacior'' - ND * ''

Liatris × frostii ''Liatris'' (), commonly known as gayfeather and blazing star is a genus of flowering plants in the tribe Eupatorieae within the family Asteraceae native to North America (Canada, United States, Mexico and the Bahamas). Some species are used ...

'' - MN MO * ''

Liatris garberi ''Liatris'' (), commonly known as gayfeather and blazing star is a genus of flowering plants in the tribe Eupatorieae within the family Asteraceae native to North America (Canada, United States, Mexico and the Bahamas). Some species are used ...

'' – Garber's blazing star - FL

Bahamas The Bahamas, officially the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, is an archipelagic and island country within the Lucayan Archipelago of the Atlantic Ocean. It contains 97 per cent of the archipelago's land area and 88 per cent of its population. ...

* ''

Liatris gholsonii ''Liatris'' (), commonly known as gayfeather and blazing star is a genus of flowering plants in the tribe Eupatorieae within the family Asteraceae native to North America (Canada, United States, Mexico and the Bahamas). Some species are used ...

'' – Gholson's blazing star - FL * ''

Liatris × gladewitzii ''Liatris'' (), commonly known as gayfeather and blazing star is a genus of flowering plants in the tribe Eupatorieae within the family Asteraceae native to North America (Canada, United States, Mexico and the Bahamas). Some species are used ...

'' - ONT, MI WI IL * '' Liatris glandulosa'' – glandular blazing star - TX * '' Liatris gracilis'' – slender blazing star - MS AL GA FL SC * ''

Liatris helleri ''Liatris helleri'' is a species of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae known by the common names Heller's blazing star and Heller's gayfeather. It is native to the Appalachian Mountains of the southeastern United States, found in the state ...

'' – Heller's blazing star, turgid blazing star - MD WV VA NC * '' Liatris hesperelegans'' – pink-scale blazing star, western elegant blazing-star - AR OK TX LA * '' Liatris hirsuta'' – hairy blazing star - central + southeastern United States * ''

Liatris laevigata ''Liatris laevigata'', the clusterleaf blazing star, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, native to the U.S. states of Georgia and Florida. It usually is found growing in sandy areas in association with sclerophyllous oaks. ...

'' – shortleaf blazingstar - FL GA * '' Liatris lancifolia'' – lanceleaf blazingstar - NM TX CO WY KS NE SD IA * '' Liatris ligulistylis'' – Rocky Mountain blazing star, strap-style blazing star -

MAN A man is an adult male human. Before adulthood, a male child or adolescent is referred to as a boy. Like most other male mammals, a man's genome usually inherits an X chromosome from the mother and a Y chromosome from the f ...

SAS

ALB An Alb is a liturgical vestment. ALB, Alb or alb may also refer to: * Alb, Alpine transhumance in Allemannic German Places * Alb (Upper Rhine), a tributary of the Upper Rhine in northern Black Forest near Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany * Al ...

ND SD MN WI IL IA MO NE WY MT CO NM * '' Liatris microcephala'' – small-head blazing star - NC SC GA AL TN KY * ''

Liatris novae-angliae ''Liatris novae-angliae'', commonly known as the New England blazing-star, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. Conservation status in the United States It is endangered in New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Rhode Island. It is ...

'' – New England blazing-star * ''

Liatris ohlingerae ''Liatris ohlingerae'' is a rare species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae known by the common names Florida blazing star, Florida gayfeather, scrub blazing star, and sandtorch. It is endemic to Florida in the United States, where it oc ...

'' – Florida blazing star, scrub blazing star - FL * '' Liatris oligocephala'' – Cahaba torch - AL * '' Liatris patens'' – spreading blazing star, Georgia blazing star - FL GA SC * '' Liatris pauciflora'' – fewflower blazing star - AL GA FL SC NC * ''

Liatris pilosa ''Liatris pilosa'' (syn. ''Liatris graminifolia''), the grass-leaf blazingstar, sandhills blazing star (a name it shares with '' Liatris cokeri''), shaggy blazing star, or shaggy gayfeather, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteracea ...

'' – grass-leaf blazing star, shaggy blazing star - SC NC VA MD DE PA NJ * ''

Liatris × platylepis ''Liatris'' (), commonly known as gayfeather and blazing star is a genus of flowering plants in the tribe Eupatorieae within the family Asteraceae native to North America (Canada, United States, Mexico and the Bahamas). Some species are used ...

'' - LA * ''

Liatris provincialis ''Liatris provincialis'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae known by the common names Godfrey's blazing star and Godfrey's gayflower. It is endemic to Florida in the United States, where it is limited to Wakulla and Frankl ...

'' – Godfrey's blazing star - FL * ''

Liatris punctata ''Liatris punctata'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae known by the common names dotted gayfeather, dotted blazingstar, and narrow-leaved blazingstar. It is native to North America, where it occurs throughout the plains of ...

'' – dotted blazing star, plains gayfeather -

SAS

eastern + central United States

Coahuila Coahuila, formally Coahuila de Zaragoza, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Coahuila de Zaragoza, is one of the 31 states of Mexico. The largest city and State Capital is the city of Saltillo; the second largest is Torreón and the thi ...

Nuevo León Nuevo León, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Nuevo León, is a Administrative divisions of Mexico, state in northeastern Mexico. The state borders the Mexican states of Tamaulipas, Coahuila, Zacatecas, and San Luis Potosí, San Luis ...

Tamaulipas Tamaulipas, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Tamaulipas, is a state in Mexico; one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the 32 federal entities of Mexico. It is divided into 43 municipalities. It is located in nor ...

San Luis Potosí San Luis Potosí, officially the Free and Sovereign State of San Luis Potosí, is one of the 32 states which compose the Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 59 municipalities and is named after its capital city, San Luis Potosí. It ...

* '' Liatris pycnostachya'' – prairie blazing star, button snakeroot, cattail gayfeather, thickspike gayfeather, Kansas gayfeather - QUE eastern United States * ''

Liatris × ridgwayi ''Liatris'' (), commonly known as gayfeather and blazing star is a genus of flowering plants in the tribe Eupatorieae within the family Asteraceae native to North America (Canada, United States, Mexico and the Bahamas). Some species are used ...

'' - IL KS * '' Liatris savannensis'' – savanna blazing star - FL * ''

Liatris scariosa ''Liatris scariosa'', called savanna blazing star, is a species of flowering plant in the genus ''Liatris ''Liatris'' (), commonly known as gayfeather and blazing star is a genus of flowering plants in the tribe Eupatorieae within the fami ...

'' – northern gayfeather, devil's bite - eastern + central United States * '' Liatris × serotina'' - LA * '' Liatris × spheroidea'' - ONT * ''

Liatris spicata ''Liatris spicata'', the dense blazing star, prairie feather, gayfeather or button snakewort, is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is native to eastern North America where it grows in moist prairies and meadows ...

'' – dense blazing star, button snakewort, florist gayfeather, marsh blazingstar, prairie-pine - ONT QUE eastern United States * '' Liatris squarrosa'' – loosescale gayfeather, colicroot, scaly blazing star - central + southeastern United States * ''

Liatris squarrulosa ''Liatris squarrulosa'', commonly called Appalachian blazing star or southern blazingstar, is an herbaceous perennial plant is the family Asteraceae. It is native to the Southeastern United States The Southeastern United States, also known a ...

'' – southern gayfeather, Appalachian blazing star - south-central + southeastern United States * '' Liatris × steelei'' - IL IN KY * ''

Liatris tenuifolia ''Liatris tenuifolia'', also known as the shortleaf gayfeather, is a species of the genus ''Liatris'' endemic to parts of the Southeast United States. The flower blooms in mid to late fall and is dormant in the winter. It is lavender in color. ...

'' – pine-needle gayfeather, shortleaf gayfeather - AL GA SC FL * ''

Liatris tenuis ''Liatris'' (), commonly known as gayfeather and blazing star is a genus of flowering plants in the tribe Eupatorieae within the family Asteraceae native to North America (Canada, United States, Mexico and the Bahamas). Some species are used ...

'' – gulf blazing star, Shinners' gayfeather - TX LA * '' Liatris virgata'' – wand blazing star, King's Mountain gayfeather, piedmont gayfeather - VA WV NC SC GA * '' Liatris × weaveri'' - NE

References

* * {{Authority control Asteraceae genera Flora of Northern America Cormous plants