Liatris punctata
 
Dotted Blazingstar

Flower Head Side

Nicolle Flats
12-Aug-2005

The subtending leaf and involucral bracts have been removed for the purpose of this photograph.

Flora of North America recognizes three varieties of L. punctata distinguished according a key found in the link.  Flora of the Great Plains divides these three varieties into two species, L. punctata and L. mucronata.  I am following Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta, which recognize a single species only.

bullet

Punctata: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this species. 
bullet

lower leaves 2-4 mm wide; NOT [lower leaves 10-20 mm wide]

bullet

flower heads with 4-6 florets; NOT [flower heads with more than 15 florets]

bullet

heads cylindrical; NOT [heads subglobose]

bullet

heads narrower than 1-3 cm wide

bullet

pappus bristles plumose; NOT [pappus bristles barbellate]

 

bullet

Liatris: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this genus. 
bullet

juice watery; NOT [juice milky]

bullet

leaves NOT whorled

bullet

leaves linear to oblanceolate; NOT [leaves triangular to ovate]

bullet

flowers in elongated racemes or spikes; NOT [flowers in terminal, more or less flat-topped clusters or solitary]

bullet

bracts of involucre NOT [dry or parchmenty]

bullet

bracts of involucre usually green

bullet

involucral bracts NOT spiny-tipped and WITHOUT hooked bristles

bullet

receptacle naked; NOT [receptacle densely bristly]

bullet

flower heads with all florets tubular

bullet

flowers all perfect; NOT [flowers of some heads all pistillate or the outer flowers pistillate]

bullet

florets pink to purple; NOT [florets whitish to cream, yellow, greenish yellow, or orange]

bullet

stamens united to form a tube around the pistil

bullet

pappus present, distinct; NOT [pappus none or inconspicuous]

bullet

pappus of capillary bristles or hairs, sometimes plumose; NOT [pappus of scales, or of awns, or a crown]

bullet

pappus hairs much longer than achene