Liatris pycnostachya “gayfeather”, “prairie blazing star”
Asteraceae
One of the iconic wildflowers in Missouri, seen here being pollinated by a Hemaris hummingbird moth.
CC value=6. Perennial, stems 50-150 cm, mod to densely pubescent with short, curled hairs, may be glabrous toward base.
Basal and low stem leaves are mostly short-petiolate, 8-40 cm x 3-13 mm, linear or narrowly oblanceolate, glabrous to densely short-hairy, green, 3-5 main veins; stem leaves mostly sessile, 1.5-15 cm, linear.
Flower heads are densely spaced (axis mostly not visible), sessile or with stalks 1 mm long, and 1 basal bract.
Involucral bracts are broadly lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, tapered to long. Bract tips are sharply pointed spreading or recurved.
Found on prairies, fens, glade seeps and roadsides.
(Hybrid MOFEP/Park Service Fire Ecology Manual 2018)
Paradise Ecological Services 