Liatris squarrulosa Michx.

Appalachian Blazing Star; Appalachian Gayfeather

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Southern Gayfeather is a native herbaceous perennial in the Sunflower family (Asteraceae). It occurs throughout Alabama. Southern Gayfeather occurs in prairies, in cedar glades, in pine woodlands, and in rocky woods. It is a perennial with a globose corm. Plants are from 2-6 feet in height. The stems are green or reddish in color, usually unbranched, and pubescent. Leaves are basal and cauline. The basal leaves are petiolate, elliptic to oblanceolate in outline, pubescent, with entire margins. The stem leaves are sessile, alternate, lanceolate to elliptic in outline, pubescent, with entire margins. Flowers are produced in heads arranged in terminal racemes. The phyllaries are large, green or purple in color, with reflexed tips. The lower phyllaries have triangular tips while those closer to the flowers have rounded apices. The phyllaries are pubescent or glabrous. The upper phyllaries have a purple margin. The heads have 11-26 purple disc flowers. The fruit is an achene with barbellate bristles. Southern Gayfeather is sometimes available from native plant nurseries. It prefers a well-draining soil in full sun. Plants may have to be staked to prevent them from falling over. Southern Gayfeather occurs in a wide range of habitats and exhibits considerable variation. The size and shape of the heads, the numbers of flowers per head, the size of plants, and the amount of pubescence all vary tremendously.--A. Diamond

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Native

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