Liatris microcephala (Small) K. Schum.

Small Head Blazing Star; Small Head Gayfeather

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Small Head Blazing Star is a native herbaceous perennial in the Sunflower family (Asteraceae). It is native to the northern half of Alabama. Small Head Blazing Star occurs on granite and sandstone outcrops, on rocky slopes, in dry pine-hardwood forests, and on roadside banks. It is a perennial from a globose corm. The stems are 1-5 from each corm. Stems are erect to reclining, green in color, glabrous, and unbranched (unless damaged). Leaves are basal and cauline. The leaves are linear-lanceolate in outline, alternate, sessile (upper) or short petiolate (lower), glabrous, with entire margins. The leaves are gradually or abruptly reduced in size in the upper half of the stem. Flowers are produced in cylindrical heads. The heads are arranged in spike-like arrays. Heads are sessile or with peduncles up to 12 mm in length. Each head has 3-4 series of unequal glabrous phyllaries with hyaline margins. Each head has 4-5 pink-purple disc flowers. The fruit is an achene with barbellate bristles. Small Head Blazing Star is available from some native plant nurseries. It prefers a site with well-draining soil and full sun.--A. Diamond

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Native

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