Liatris punctata
 
Dotted Blazingstar

Floret Side

Nicolle Flats
12-Aug-2005

The pappus bristles have been spread out for the purpose of this photograph.  Note that these bristles are plumose, creating the white fuzz next to the red bristles.

Flora of North America recognizes three varieties of L. punctata distinguished according a key found in the link.  Flora of the Great Plains divides these three varieties into two species, L. punctata and L. mucronata.  I am following Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta, which recognize a single species only.

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Punctata: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this species. 
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lower leaves 2-4 mm wide; NOT [lower leaves 10-20 mm wide]

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flower heads with 4-6 florets; NOT [flower heads with more than 15 florets]

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heads cylindrical; NOT [heads subglobose]

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heads narrower than 1-3 cm wide

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pappus bristles plumose; NOT [pappus bristles barbellate]

 

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Liatris: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this genus. 
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juice watery; NOT [juice milky]

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leaves NOT whorled

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leaves linear to oblanceolate; NOT [leaves triangular to ovate]

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flowers in elongated racemes or spikes; NOT [flowers in terminal, more or less flat-topped clusters or solitary]

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bracts of involucre NOT [dry or parchmenty]

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bracts of involucre usually green

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involucral bracts NOT spiny-tipped and WITHOUT hooked bristles

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receptacle naked; NOT [receptacle densely bristly]

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flower heads with all florets tubular

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flowers all perfect; NOT [flowers of some heads all pistillate or the outer flowers pistillate]

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florets pink to purple; NOT [florets whitish to cream, yellow, greenish yellow, or orange]

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stamens united to form a tube around the pistil

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pappus present, distinct; NOT [pappus none or inconspicuous]

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pappus of capillary bristles or hairs, sometimes plumose; NOT [pappus of scales, or of awns, or a crown]

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pappus hairs much longer than achene