Liatris acidota

slender blazingstar, sharp blazing star, sharp gayfeather, sharp liatris
Family

Asteraceae

Leaf Arrangement

basal (rosulate)

Leaf Type

simple

Leaf Shape

linear, lanceolate, ovate

Growth Form

forb

Flower Color

pink, purple

Flower Month

July - December

Height (meters)

0.5 - 0.9

Milky Sap

No

Armed/Unarmed

Unarmed

Origin

native

Lifespan

perennial

Growing Season

Warm season


Wetland Class

FACW

Prairie Coefficient of Conservatism

8

Field Characters

A short Liatris with hairless leaves and an inflorescence of small heads well spaced apart on the central axis.

Cultural Information

Seed germination is improved by cold/moist stratification (Steffen 1997). Seeds average approximately 156,000/lb.

Animal Use

Acceptable to cattle as forage.

Natural History

Grows on moist, but well drained, sites on the coastal plain and are most abundant on sandy ridges and on pimple mounds in areas that are wet. Cattle eat the young foliage making this species a decreaser under heavy grazing. Distribution is limited to Texas and Louisiana (USDA 1998).

Habitat

Frequently in wet areas and prairie.