Taxonomy
Family: Asteraceae
Habitat
Dry prairies. Sandy prairies and flats.
Associates
In sandflats with Andropogon scoparius, Artemesia caudata, Aster ptarmicoides, Euphorbia corollata, Helianthus occidentalis, Liatris aspera, Opuntia humifusa, Rosa carolina.
Distribution
Morphology
Basal leaves well-developed and present at flowering time. Cauline leaves alternate, linear to narrowly lanceolate. Stems glabrous or glabrate. Inflorescence a spiciform or racemose spike, much longer than broad. Involucral bracts sharp-pointed and appressed; heads 1 to 20' corolla lobes pubescent within; pappus bristles with lateral pinnae more than 0.5mm long.
Notes
Flowers mid July to early October.
Wetland indicator: Upland
One of the smallest and also one of the rarest blazing stars.
Bibliography
Swink, F. and G. Wilhelm. 1994. Plants of the Chicago Region.
Indiana Academy of Science. The Morton Arboretum. Lisle, Illinois.
Michael Hough © 2005 |