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Liatris tenuifolia
Liatris tenuifolia Nutt.
Shortleaf Blazing Star, Slender Blazing Star, Shortleaf Gayfeather, Shortleaf Liatris, Fineleaf Blazing Star, Fineleaf Gayfeather, Fineleaf Liatris
Asteraceae (Aster Family)
Synonym(s):
USDA Symbol: LITE6
USDA Native Status: L48 (N)
The long spikes of tufted, lavender flower heads, which bloom from the top down, may occupy up to 20 in. of the 2-5 ft. flower stalk.
The Fineleaf Blazing Star is a member of the aster family (family Asteraceae), which includes herbs, sometimes shrubs or vines, rarely trees, with simple or compound, alternate or opposite leaves. Flowers small, but organized into larger heads resembling a single, radially symmetrical flower cupped by a ring of green bracts.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Herb
Size Notes: Up to about 5 feet tall.
Fruit: Fruit is a cypsela (pl. cypselae). Though technically incorrect, the fruit is often referred to as an achene.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: PurpleBloom Time: Aug , Sep , Oct , Nov
Distribution
USA: AL , FL , GA , SCNative Distribution: Coastal plain from FL to SC
Native Habitat: Dry pinelands or turkey oak woods; dunes; roadsides
Growing Conditions
Light Requirement: SunSoil Description: Sandy or gravelly soils.
Value to Beneficial Insects
Special Value to Native BeesThis information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.
Web Reference
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.Research Literature
Reslit 1676 - Effects of re-introducing fire to a central Florida sandhill community (2004) K. O. Reinhart and E. S. MengesThis information was provided by the Florida WIldflower Foundation.
Search More Titles in Research Literature
Additional resources
USDA: Find Liatris tenuifolia in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Liatris tenuifolia in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Liatris tenuifolia
Metadata
Record Modified: 2022-12-29Research By: TWC Staff