Liatris spicata (Gay feather)

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Liatris spicata (L.) Willd.

Gay feather, blazing star, dense blazing star

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Asteridae	A large class that encompasses asters
Order	Asterales	Flowering plants with a central disk flower and surrounding petals, like daisies
Family	Asteraceae	The aster family, which also includes daisies and sunflowers; from the Greek ἀστήρ, “star,” for the star-shaped flowers
Genus	Liatris	A very old name, meaning lost
Species	spicata	“Spiked”

About plant names...

Dense blazing star is named for its tall spikes of pink-purple flowers. It is a member of the aster family.

Identification: Plants are 24-48" (60-121 cm) high. Leaves are narrow, grass-like, more dense near the bottom of the plant, up to 12" (30 cm) long and ¾" (2 cm) wide. The striking flower spikes are up to 12" (30 cm) tall. Petals are threadlike tubes, each pointed randomly. Flowerheads look a little similar to purple loosestrife from a distance, but up close, flower spikes and leaves are very different.

Online References:

Missouriplants.com

Illinois Wildflowers

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

The Missouri Botanical Garden

Plants.ces.ncsu.edu

7/29/2023 · By Jacquelyn Boyt

8/17/2014 · Bald Mountain, Franconia Notch Area, White Mountains, New Hampshire
≈ 6 × 8" (14 × 20 cm)

8/17/2014 · Bald Mountain, Franconia Notch Area, White Mountains, New Hampshire
≈ 5 × 7" (13 × 19 cm)

Liatris spicata description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.

8/17/2014 · Bald Mountain, Franconia Notch Area, White Mountains, New Hampshire
≈ 6 × 9" (16 × 22 cm)

8/12/2017 · Bates Land and Blackman Land, Groton Conservation Trust, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 4 × 6" (11 × 14 cm)

Range: Zones 3-9:

About this map...