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.