Plants 30–120 cm. Corms depressed-globose or globose to napiform. Stems puberulent to hirsute-puberulent. Leaves: (basal on relatively distant internodes usually withering before flowering) proximal cauline 1-nerved, narrowly oblanceolate, 60–200 (–300) × 3–8 mm, gradually or abruptly reduced distally (becoming slightly to strongly deflexed), essentially glabrous or sparsely puberulent, glanddotted. Heads in dense, spiciform arrays. Peduncles usually 0, sometimes 1–5 (–10) mm. Involucres turbinate-cylindric, 12–20 × 4–6 mm. Phyllaries in 3–4 series, narrowly lanceolate-triangular, unequal, strigose to strigoso-hispid, margins with hyaline borders, apices (at least inner) prolonged, spreading, ± dilated, petaloid (pink, purplish, white, or yellow). Florets 4–5; corolla-tubes glabrous inside. Cypselae 3.5–5 (–6) mm; pappi: lengths ± equaling corollas, bristles plumose.

Distribution

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• Legacy Map

Ala., Ark., Fla., Ga., La., Miss., Okla., S.C., Tex.

Discussion

Varieties 4 (4 in the flora).

Variety elegans extends across the geographic range of the species; the other three varieties form local enclaves essentially imbedded within var. elegans and sporadically intergrading with it at points of contact (see further comments under 10d. var. kralii).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Liatris elegans var. bridgesii, Liatris elegans var. carizzana, Liatris elegans var. elegans, Liatris elegans var. kralii

Key

1	Phyllary apices petaloid, blue, lavender, magenta, or pink, ± elongate and recurving, petaloid portions short relative to herbaceous bases	> 2
1	Phyllary apices petaloid, usually yellowish to creamy white, rarely pale lavender to rose, recurving to slightly flaring or nearly straight, petaloid portions elongate or relatively short relative to bases	> 3
2	Corms depressed-globose	Liatris elegans var. elegans
2	Corms elongate, tapering	Liatris elegans var. carizzana
3	Heads usually crowded (peduncles 0); phyllary apices creamy white (rarely pale lavender), sometimes initially lemon yellow fading to creamy white, elongate and recurving, petaloid portions short relative to herbaceous bases	Liatris elegans var. bridgesii
3	Heads well spaced; phyllary apices light yellow or cream (rarely pale lavender), flaring-divergent slightly or not at all, petaloid portions elongate relative to herbaceous bases	Liatris elegans var. kralii

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