1 |
Pappi usually of plumose or subplumose bristles (barbellate to subplumose, barbels mostly 0.5–1 mm, in L. acidota and L. ohlingerae) |
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(2) |
+ |
Pappi usually of barbellate bristles (barbels mostly 0.1–0.4 mm) |
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(15) |
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2 (1) |
Phyllary apices (at least inner) prolonged, ± spreading, ± dilated, petaloid (pink, purplish, white, or yellow) |
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10 Liatris elegans |
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Phyllary apices (at least of inner) acuminate, acute, cuspidate, mucronate, obtuse, rounded, rounded-acuminate, or truncate (seldom notably spreading, not dilated or petaloid) |
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(3) |
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3 (2) |
Heads in cymiform or corymbiform to subcorymbiform arrays; peduncles (arcuate or ascending-spreading) 20–70 mm |
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(4) |
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Heads usually in racemiform to spiciform arrays, rarely borne singly; peduncles 0 or 1–10(–25) mm |
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(5) |
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4 (3) |
Involucres cylindro-campanulate, 14–17 × 8–11 mm; phyllary apices usuallyrounded, often mucronate; Texas |
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7 Liatris cymosa |
+ |
Involucres hemispheric to campanulate or broadly turbinate, 17–23 × 15–20 mm; phyllary apices usually rounded to obtuse (pappus bristles barbellate tosubplumose); Florida |
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30 Liatris ohlingerae (in part) |
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5 (3) |
Leaves 3–5-nerved; florets 10–60; corollas (lobes adaxially hispid) |
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(6) |
+ |
Leaves mostly 1-nerved, sometimes 3–5-nerved (L. acidota); florets (2–)3–6(–8) or 8–14(–16); corollas (lobes glabrous) |
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(9) |
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6 (5) |
Phyllaries ± equal (outer usually as long as or longer than inner) |
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(7) |
+ |
Phyllaries ± unequal (outer shorter) |
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(8) |
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7 (6) |
Heads usually borne singly (each immediately subtended by relatively broad, foliaceous bracts longer than involucres); stems glabrous |
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1 Liatris compacta |
+ |
Heads in racemiform to spiciform arrays; stems glabrous or puberulent-villous |
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2 Liatris squarrosa |
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8 (6) |
Stems hirsute to piloso-hirsute; phyllary apices (at least inner) acute-acuminate (all usually spreading to reflexed on distal 1/5–1/3, usually without hyaline borders) |
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3 Liatris hirsuta |
+ |
Stems usually glabrous; phyllary apices (at least inner) usually rounded, rounded-acuminate, or truncate, often stiffly mucronate (all essentially erect and appressed, usually with narrow hyaline borders) |
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4 Liatris cylindracea |
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9 (5) |
Heads in loose, spiciform arrays (widely spaced, stems evident); florets 4–6(–8) or 8–14(–16) |
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(10) |
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Heads in dense, spiciform arrays (closely spaced, stems usually obscured); florets (2–)3–6(–8) |
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(11) |
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10 (9) |
Florets 4–6(–8) |
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5 Liatris punctata (in part) |
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Florets 8–14(–16) |
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6 Liatris bracteata |
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11 (9) |
Corms elongate or becoming rhizomes |
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5 Liatris punctata (in part) |
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Corms globose, subglobose, depressed-globose, or ovoid |
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(12) |
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12 (11) |
Leaves 3(–5)-nerved (bases of basal often fibrous-persistent), cauline abruptly reduced distally (pappus bristles subplumose); coastal plain, Louisiana, Texas |
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16 Liatris acidota (in part) |
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Leaves 1-nerved (bases not fibrous-persistent), cauline usually gradually or little reduced, sometimes abruptly reduced, distally; inland habitats |
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(13) |
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13 (12) |
Stems stipitate-glandular |
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9 Liatris glandulosa |
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Stems glabrous (not glandular) |
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(14) |
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14 (13) |
Phyllaries (11–18) in (4–)5–6 series, mostly oblong-obovate, unequal (inner 7–9 mm), apices obtuse to truncate-rounded (each tipped by thick, often indurate apicula or mucros, lateral veins usually not evident beyond middle or at least on distal 1/3); flowering mostlymid–late Aug(–Oct) |
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5 Liatris punctata (in part) |
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Phyllaries (6–11) in 2–3 series, oblong-lanceolate to lanceolate-triangular, subequal (inner 11–12 mm), apices acute to acute-attenuate (sometimes with narrow tips, lateral veins usually evident beyond middle, continuingnearly to tips); flowering mid Jul–Aug(–Sep) |
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8 Liatris aestivalis |
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15 (1) |
Heads borne singly or (2–30) in corymbiform to subcorymbiform arrays |
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(16) |
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Heads in racemiform to spiciform arrays |
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(17) |
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16 (15) |
Involucres campanulate-turbinate, 10–19(–23) × (8–)10–17(–22) mm; phyllaries in ± 3–4 series, apices mostly long-acuminate (innermost short-acuminate); Alabama |
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12 Liatris oligocephala |
+ |
Involucres hemispheric to campanulate or broadly turbinate, 17–23 × 15–20 mm; phyllaries in 6–7 series, apices rounded to obtuse; Florida |
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30 Liatris ohlingerae (in part) |
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17 (15) |
Leaves 3- or 5-nerved |
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(18) |
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Leaves usually 1-nerved, sometimes 1- (or 3-) nerved |
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(22) |
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18 (17) |
Stems glabrous (often sparsely sessile-glandular, leaf bases not fibrous-persistent); corolla tubes pilose inside |
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29 Liatris savannensis (in part) |
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Stems glabrous or piloso-puberulent (not glandular, leaf bases fibrous-persistent); corolla tubes glabrous inside |
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(19) |
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19 (18) |
Phyllary apices obtuse to rounded |
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(20) |
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Phyllary apices acuminate, acute, or acute-acuminate |
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(21) |
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20 (19) |
Basal leaves 6–12(–15) mm wide; Great Plains |
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13 Liatris lancifolia |
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Basal leaves (2–)4–10(–20) mm wide; e of Mississippi River |
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14 Liatris spicata |
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21 (19) |
Phyllary apices acute to acute-acuminate (reflexed to curving-spreading,tips often ± dilated, nearly petaloid); florets (4–)5–8 |
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15 Liatris pycnostachya |
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Phyllary apices acuminate to acute (erect and ± appressed); florets (2–)3–4(–5) |
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16 Liatris acidota (in part) |
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22 (17) |
Phyllary apices (at least mid and inner) usually acuminate to acute or rounded to rounded-retuse and minutely involute-cuspidate to acuminate or apiculate |
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(23) |
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Phyllary apices (at least mid and inner) usually obtuse, rounded, or truncate, rarely acute (not rounded-retuse or cuspidate to apiculate) |
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(34) |
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23 (22) |
Phyllaries narrowly triangular, margins without hyaline borders, apices (divergent), usually acuminate to acute; florets 10–12; w Louisiana, e Texas |
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11 Liatris tenuis |
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Phyllaries elliptic-oblong, lanceolate, oblong, oblong-lanceolate, oblong-obovate, obovate, ovate, ovate-triangular, or spatulate, margins usually with narrow hyaline borders, apices (erect) acuminate, acute, obtuse-angled, rounded, or rounded-retuse, sometimes minutely involute-cuspidate to apiculate; florets 3–6(–9) or 7–10(–12); mostly e of Mississippi River |
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(24) |
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24 (23) |
Stems glabrous or sparsely pilose |
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(25) |
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Stems hirtellous (hairs spreading to slightly deflexed) or hirsute, piloso-puberulent, puberulent, strigoso-hirtellous, or strigoso-puberulent |
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(29) |
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25 (24) |
Phyllary apices usually rounded-retuse and minutely involute-cuspidate to apiculate; corolla tubes glabrous inside |
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(26) |
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Phyllary apices acute, obtuse-angled, or rounded; corolla tubes pilose inside |
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(27) |
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26 (25) |
Stems glabrous or sparsely pilose; basal (and proximal cauline) leaves linear (arising from separated nodes), 1–2(–2.5) mm wide, abruptly or gradually reduced distally, margins usually ciliate proximally, facesgland-dotted |
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17 Liatris tenuifolia |
+ |
Stems glabrous; basal leaves (mostly arising from congested nodes) lance-linear to linear, (1–)2–6(–9) mm wide, abruptly reduced distally, margins not ciliate, faces (minutely white-dotted by stomates) weakly, if at all, gland-dotted |
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18 Liatris laevigata |
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27 (25) |
Heads in racemiform to spiciform (often strongly secund) arrays; involucres (7–)11–15 mm; phyllaries oblong to oblong-oblanceolate;florets 3–6 |
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21 Liatris pauciflora |
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Heads in racemiform to spiciform (sometimes secund) arrays; involucres (6–)7–9 mm; phyllaries ovate-triangular to oblong or oblong-lanceolate; florets 4–10(–12) |
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(28) |
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28 (27) |
Heads in loose arrays (not secund, internodes 6–20 mm); phyllary apices sharply acute to obtuse-angled, apiculate (apicula thickened, not markedly involute, laminae relatively thick, usually with glands in pits, without superficial glands); florets 7–10(–12); basal and proximal cauline leaves (2–)4–9(–12) mm wide (usuallyabruptly, sometimes gradually, reduced distally) |
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23 Liatris virgata |
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Heads in dense arrays (often secund, internodes 1–5 mm); phyllary apices rounded, acuminate to involute-cuspidate (laminae relatively thin, glands superficial at least proximally); florets 4–7(–9); basal and proximal cauline leaves 2–5 mm wide (abruptly or gradually reduced distally) |
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24 Liatris cokeri |
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29 (24) |
Stems hirsute, puberulent, piloso-puberulent, or strigoso-puberulent |
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(30) |
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Stems hirtellous (hairs spreading to slightly deflexed) |
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(32) |
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30 (29) |
Corms elongated into rhizomes (irregularly shaped, sometimes with thickened, fibrous roots); involucres 8–10 mm |
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22 Liatris garberi |
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Corms globose to elongate; involucres 4–6(–7) mm |
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(31) |
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31 (30) |
Cauline leaves (proximal) usually lanceolate, linear, linear-oblanceolate, or oblanceolate, sometimes narrowly spatulate, 2–8(–10) mm wide (bracts subtending proximal heads to 2 mm wide, abruptly differentiated from distal cauline leaves); phyllary apices usually rounded or obtuse-truncate, rarely acute |
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32 Liatris gracilis (in part) |
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Cauline leaves (proximal) spatulate (petioles slender, blades elliptic to lance-elliptic), (8–)11–22(–27) mm wide (bracts subtending proximal heads 2+ mm wide, grading gradually from distal cauline leaves); phyllary apices usually acuminate to acute, rarely obtuse |
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33 Liatris gholsonii (in part) |
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32 (29) |
Heads in relatively loose, racemiform to spiciform (often secund)arrays |
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21 Liatris pauciflora |
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Heads in dense, spiciform (cylindric) arrays |
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(33) |
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33 (32) |
Heads (rigidly ascending, appressed to rachises and each other, overlapping); phyllary margins usually not ciliolate, apices (erect) acuminate to acute |
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19 Liatris chapmanii |
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Heads (spreading to ascending, not strongly overlapping); phyllary margins ciliolate, apices (slightly spreading) acuminate to acute |
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20 Liatris provincialis |
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34 (22) |
Stems glabrous (sometimes sparsely sessile-glandular, rarely sparsely to moderately pilose in L. pilosa) |
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(35) |
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Stems hispidulo-puberulent, piloso-puberulent, puberulent, puberulent-villous, strigoso-hirtellous, or strigoso-puberulent |
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(39) |
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35 (34) |
Involucres 5–7(–9) mm; florets 4–5(–6); corolla tubes glabrous inside (pappi: lengthsusually ± 1/2 corollas) |
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28 Liatris microcephala |
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Involucres 6–10 mm; florets (6–)7–13(–17); corolla tubes pilose or glabrous (L. ligulistylis) inside (pappi: lengths usually equaling corollas, shorter in some populations of L. helleri) |
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(36) |
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36 (35) |
Stems glabrous (often sparsely sessile-glandular); involucres (8–)9–11(–12) mm diam.; phyllaries: hyaline borders erose to lacerate, (0.2–)0.4–1 mm wide;florets 9–17 |
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29 Liatris savannensis (in part) |
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Stems glabrous or sparsely to moderately pilose (not glandular); involucres 5–8(–10) mm diam.; phyllaries: hyaline borders smooth or erose to lacerate, 0.2–0.4 mm wide; florets (6–)7–13(–17) |
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(37) |
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37 (36) |
Plants 15–55 cm; leaves weakly, if at all, gland-dotted; pappi: lengths 1/3–2/3 or equaling corollas; montane |
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25 Liatris helleri |
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Plants 40–120 cm; leaves ± gland-dotted; pappi: lengths ± equaling corollas; coastal plain and piedmont |
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(38) |
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38 (37) |
Stems glabrous or sparsely or moderately pilose; heads in loose to dense arrays (internodes 1–7 mm); peduncles 0 or 1–10(–80) mm; involucres(7–)8–10 mm; phyllaries in (3–)4–5(–6) series |
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26 Liatris pilosa |
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Stems glabrous; heads in loose arrays (internodes 2–14 mm); peduncles 0 or 2(–7) mm; involucres 6–8 mm; phyllaries in 3–4(–5) series |
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27 Liatris elegantula |
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39 (34) |
Involucres 2.5–7 mm diam.; florets 3–12 |
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(40) |
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Involucres (6–)8–15 mm diam. (L. squarrulosa) or 13–22(–25) mm diam.; florets 11–80. |
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(42) |
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40 (39) |
Stems moderately to densely strigoso-hirtellous; peduncles (divergent, arcuate-ascending) 10–25(–30) mm; involucres 5–7 mm diam.; phyllary apices rounded to subtruncate; florets 7–12 |
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31 Liatris patens |
+ |
Stems piloso-puberulent, puberulent, or strigoso-puberulent; peduncles 0 or (usually ascending) 2–10(–12) mm; involucres 2.5–4(–5) mm diam.; phyllary apices rounded or obtuse to acuminate or acute; florets 3–6(–9) |
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(41) |
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41 (40) |
Proximal cauline leaves usually linear to linear-oblanceolate or oblanceolate, sometimes narrowly spatulate, 2–8(–10) mm wide (proximal floral bracts to 2 mm wide, abruptly differentiated from distal cauline leaves); phyllaryapices usually rounded or obtuse-truncate, rarely acute |
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32 Liatris gracilis (in part) |
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Proximal cauline leaves spatulate (blades elliptic to lance-elliptic), (8–)11–22(–27) mm wide (proximal floral bracts 2+ mm wide, gradually differentiated from distal cauline leaves); phyllary apices usually acuminate to acute,rarely obtuse |
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33 Liatris gholsonii (in part) |
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42 (39) |
Peduncles usually (5–)8–50 mm, rarely 0; phyllaries (usually erect, rarely spreading-reflexing); florets 30–80 (19–33 in L. scariosa var. scariosa); corolla tubes glabrous or pilose inside |
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(43) |
+ |
Peduncles usually 0, sometimes 1–8+ (rarely to 30 in L. squarrulosa) mm; phyllaries (at least outer) usually reflexing, sometimes erect; florets 11–30; corolla tubes pilose inside |
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(44) |
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43 (42) |
Phyllary margins: hyaline borders erose to lacerate or irregular; corolla tubes glabrousinside; Great Plains, e slope of Rocky Mountains in United States |
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34 Liatris ligulistylis |
+ |
Phyllary margins: hyaline borders none or relatively smooth; corolla tubes pilose orglabrous inside; ne and nc United States, adjacent Canada |
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35 Liatris scariosa |
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44 (42) |
Phyllaries glabrous (bullate, hyaline borders relatively broad, often erose to lacerate or irregular) |
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36 Liatris aspera |
+ |
Phyllaries glabrous or puberulent to puberulent-hirtellous (not bullate, hyaline borders none or relatively narrow, smooth) |
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37 Liatris squarrulosa |
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