Plants 30–80 cm. Corms globose to slightly elongate. Stems glabrous or puberulent-villous. Leaves: basal and proximal cauline 3–5-nerved, broadly linear to linear-oblanceolate, 70–220 × 2–12 mm (largest usually distal to proximalmost), gradually reduced distally, puberulent-villous or glabrous, weakly glanddotted. Heads borne singly or (3–26) in loose, racemiform to spiciform arrays. Peduncles 0 or (spreading to ascending) 1–8 (–20+) mm. Involucres cylindro-campanulate, 12–20 (–25) × 7–10 mm. Phyllaries (usually erect, sometimes spreading-reflexing on the distal 1/3) in 5–7 series, narrowly ovate-triangular and foliaceous (outer) to ovate or oblong-triangular, ± equal, glabrous or pubescent, margins without hyaline borders, stiffly to softly ciliate, apices acuminate to acute. Florets (10–) 23–45 (–60); corolla-tubes glabrous inside (lobes adaxially hispid). Cypselae 4–5.5 mm; pappi: lengths ± equaling corollas, bristles plumose.

Distribution

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Ala., Colo., Del., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kans., Ky., La., Md., Mich., Mo., N.C., Nebr., Ohio, Okla., S.C., Tenn., Tex., Va., W.Va.

Discussion

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).

See discussion under 1. Liatris compacta.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Liatris squarrosa var. glabrata, Liatris squarrosa var. squarrosa

Key

1	Stems glabrous; leaves glabrous; phyllariesglabrous	Liatris squarrosa var. glabrata
1	Stems usually puberulent-strigose (hairs soft, upturned or appressed); leaves sparsely pilose to glabrescent; phyllaries usually ciliate, faces glabrousor pubescent	Liatris squarrosa var. squarrosa

"plumose" is not a number."fine" is not a number.