ILLINOIS PLANT INFORMATION NETWORK
 
 ILPIN INFORMATION ON    Liatris punctata
 
 
 CLASS:    DICOTYLEDENAE
 ORDER:    ASTERALES
 FAMILY:   ASTERACEAE
 SCIENTIFIC NAME:  Liatris punctata
 AUTHORITY:  Hook.
 
 COMMON NAMES:
    BLAZING STAR
    DOTTED GAY FEATHER
    WESTERN SNAKEROOT
 
 SYNONOMY:   None
 
 PLANTS CODE: LIPU
 
 NATURAL COMMUNITIES:
     CULTURAL
       DEVELOPED LAND
 
 
 SAF FOREST COVER TYPE:
     NO
 
 NATURAL DIVISION:  UNAVAILABLE
 
 COUNTIES:
   DUPAGE
 
 GROWTH FORM:  Dicot-herb
 
 TAXONOMY COMMENTS:
     This is a complex species, with many segregates.
     Ref. 7 says Ill. plants are of var. nebraskana Gaiser. Ref. 2
     says Ill. plants include this variety.
 
 TAXONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS:
    ROOTS:  Adventitious   (rhizomes)   (corms)
    LEAF ARRANGEMENT:   Alternate
    LEAF TYPE:   Simple
    LEAF MARGIN:   Entire
    LEAF VENATION:  Pinnate
    LEAF SHAPE:     Oblong   Lanceolate
    INFLORESCENCE:   Spike  Head
    FLOWER STRUCTURE:   Complete   Regular
    FLOWER COLOR:   Violet   White   Others
    FLOWER PLACEMENT:  Epigynous
    FRUIT:   Achene
 
 GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION:
     ORIGIN:   Introduced-  N. America
 
 GEOGRAPHIC COMMENTS:
     Species was introduced from western U.S.A., DuPage county.
 
 POPULATION DYNAMICS:
     STATE STATUS: Not listed
     FEDERAL STATUS: Not listed
     COMMONNESS:  Rare
     ENDEMIC:   NOT-ENDEMIC
 
 BIOLOGIC:
     HABIT:   Forb
     LIFE CYCLE:   Perennial
     REPRODUCTION:   Sexual   Vegetative
     FLOWERING PERIOD:
         MONTH BEGINNING-      8         MONTH END-     10
     TROPHIC STATUS:  Autotrophic
     C02 FIXATION:  C3
     SEX:      Perfect
 
 BIOLOGIC COMMENTS:
     Species may have an elongate, thickened caudex, even a
     stout horizontal rhizome.
 
 ECODISTRIBUTION COMMENTS:
     Species is distributed along railroads.
 
 ENVIRONMENTAL RELATIONSHIPS:   No data entered
 
 FUNCTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS:    No data entered
 HUMAN RELATIONSHIP DATA:
     EDIBLE:  Yes
 
     WILD HERBS:   Medicinal
 
 HUMAN FACTOR COMMENTS:
     Hot decoctions may cause sweating. Native Americans used
     carrot-flavored root for food in early spring.
 
 WILDLIFE AND LIVESTOCK INFORMATION:
     FOOD VALUE:  No data entered
     COVER VALUE:  No data entered
 
 LIVESTOCK PALATABILITY DATA:
     CATTLE FORAGE: No data    SHEEP FORAGE:  No data    HORSE FORAGE:  No data
     GOAT FORAGE:   No data    ENERGY VALUE:  Medium     PROTEIN VALUE: Low
     POISONOUS (LIVESTOCK):   No
 
 LIVESTOCK COMMENTS:
     In western U.S.A., young plants are eaten by all livestock.
 
 REVEGETATION PLANTINGS:
     WEEDINESS:   Non-weedy
 
 
 
 REFERENCES:
Mohlenbrock, R. H., ed.  1975.  Guide to the vascular flora of Illinois.
     Southern Illinois University Press, Carbondale.  494 pp.
Steyermark, J. A.  1963.  Flora of Missouri.  Iowa State University Press, Ames.
     1725 pp.
Gleason, H. A.  1952.  The new Britton and Brown illustrated flora of the
     northeastern United States and adjacent Canada.  3 vols.  The New York
     Botanical Garden, New York.
 
 OTHER REFERENCES:
     Pammel, L.H. 1911. A Manual of Poisonous Plants. Torch Press.
     Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 977 pp.
 
 END OF DATA FOR SPECIES  Liatris punctata
 
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 ILPIN was developed by Louis Iverson*, with data compiled by David Ketzner and Jeanne Karnes
 Illinois Natural History Survey, 607 E. Peabody Dr., Champaign, IL 61820
     *currently employed by USDA Forest Service, 359 Main Rd., Delaware, OH 43015