Liatris punctata
(Dotted Blazing Star)
Liatris puncata, Lory State Park, Larimer Co. 7817
Liatris puncata, Lory State Park, Larimer Co. 7814
Liatris puncata, Lory State Park, Larimer Co. 7801
Liatris puncata, Lory State Park, Larimer Co. 7806
Liatris puncata, Lory State Park, Larimer Co. 7803
| Scientific Name | Liatris punctata (Liatris mucronata) | USDA PLANTS Symbol | LIPU |
| Common Name | Dotted Blazing Star, Dotted Gayfeather | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 37936 |
| Family | Asteraceae (Sunflower) | SEINet Reference |
Click Here |
| Description | Life zones and habitat: Plains and foothills (3500 to 8000 ft.); dry sandy or calcareous, rocky soils; prairies, open areas. Plant: Erect perennial with a few to numerous, smooth, stiff, unbranched stems, 6 to 32 inches tall, often growing in wide-spreading clump. Leaves: Alternate, narrowly linear, sessile; lower leaves 2 to 4 inches long and less than 1/4-inch wide, reducing size gradually upward becoming short bracts near the inflorescence; surfaces are gland-dotted (punctate), margins usually ciliate. Inflorescence: Flower heads in a dense spike 3 to 24 inches long, each head less than 3/4-inch long with 3 to 6 flowers; flowers with leafy phyllaries with pointed tips; no ray flowers; disk florets with 4 or 5 purple or pink lobes and protruding white style divided into two branches. Bloom Period: July to September. References: Flora of Colorado" by Jennifer Ackerfield, "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston, "Wildflowers of Texas" by Michael Eason, Kansas Wildflowers and Grasses and L. mucronata in "Wildflowers of Texas" by Geyata Ajilvsgi and "Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country" by Marshall Enquist. |
BONAP Distribution Map Map Color Key |
Colorado Status: Native |
© Tom Lebsack 2024
Banner photo: Castilleja rhexifolia and a brewing storm over the San Juan Mountains