Smallhead gayfeather

Lacinaria microcephala Small, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 25: 473. 1898; L. polyphylla Small

Plants 30–80 cm. Corms globose (fibrous roots often densely covering whole structure). Stems glabrous. Leaves: basal and proximal cauline 1-nerved, linear to linear-lanceolate, 80–200 × 1–3(–4, –6) mm, gradually reduced or abruptly reduced on distal ¹/2 of stems, essentially glabrous. Heads in loose to dense, spiciform arrays (internodes to 8 mm). Peduncles 0 or (ascending) 1–12 mm. Involucres turbinate-cylindric, 5–7(–9) × 3–4 mm. Phyllaries in 3–4 series, oblong to oblong-obovate, strongly unequal, essentially glabrous, margins with hyaline borders, apices rounded. Florets 4–5(–6); corolla tubes glabrous inside. Cypselae 3–3.5 mm; pappi: lengths ± ¹/2 corollas, bristles barbellate. 2n = 20, 60.

Flowering (Jul–)Aug–Oct. Outcrops of granite and sandstone, rocky slopes, sandy stream banks, openings in pine-oak, oak barrens; 200–600 m; Ala., Ga., Ky., N.C., S.C., Tenn.