9. Liatris squarrulosa Michx.
L. scabra (Greene) K. Schum.
Pl. 269 c–e; Map
1129
Rootstock a more
or less globose to ovoid corm, sometimes appearing somewhat erect and angular
or irregular. Stems 25–150 cm long, moderately to densely pubescent with short,
curled hairs, sometimes roughened to the touch. Basal and adjacent lower stem
leaves short- to long-petiolate, the blades 8–25 cm long, 9–45 mm wide,
oblanceolate to narrowly elliptic, the surfaces glabrous to densely
short-hairy, green, with 1 main vein, grading abruptly to the shorter stem
leaves, these mostly sessile, 2–15 cm long, narrowly oblanceolate to narrowly
oblong-elliptic or sometimes linear. Inflorescences short to elongate spicate
racemes, the heads mostly relatively loosely spaced (the axis visible between
heads), sessile or with stalks to 15 mm long, these with only 1 or few bracts.
Heads with 11–26(–28) disc florets, the terminal head not or sometimes slightly
larger than the others. Involucre 7–14 mm long, broadly cup-shaped to broadly
bell-shaped, with 4–6 unequal, overlapping series of bracts (the outer series
appearing progressively shorter). Involucral bracts broadly obovate to
oblong-spatulate, all but the innermost series spreading or recurved at the
tip, mostly with relatively narrow, thin, pale to transparent margins, the
margins or entire bract sometimes strongly purplish-tinged, nearly entire to
shallowly scalloped (sometimes also minutely irregular), the main body
appearing flat or very slightly swollen just below the tip. Corollas 9–12 mm
long, the tube hairy on the inner surface. Pappus bristles barbed. Fruits 3.5–5.5
mm long. 2n=20. August–November.
Scattered mostly
in the Ozark and Ozark Border Divisions (Ohio
to Florida west to Missouri
and Texas).
Glades, bases, ledges, and tops of bluffs, savannas, openings of mesic to dry
upland forests, and rarely upland prairies; also ditch banks, fencerows,
pastures, railroads, and roadsides.
Liatris
squarrulosa is part of a
taxonomically difficult species complex that also includes L. aspera and
L. scariosa. For further discussion, see the treatment of the latter
species. Most of the specimens of L. squarrulosa from Missouri are relatively short plants with
relatively few heads. However, at scattered sites, especially in sandy soils of
Crowley’s
Ridge, populations occur in which the plants are much taller, with elongate,
many-headed inflorescences. The relationship between these different growth
forms and their intermediates is not presently understood.