Liatris patens

Plants 35-95 cm. Corms globose to depressed-globose. Stems moderately to densely strigoso-hirtellous. Leaves: basal and proximal cauline 1-nerved, narrowly oblanceolate to linear-oblanceolate, 90-180 × 2-4(-7) mm, gradually or abruptly reduced distally, essentially glabrous (proximal margins sparsely ciliate). Heads in loose, (columnar) racemiform arrays. Peduncles (divergent-ascending, initially diverging at angles of 45-90°) 10-25(-30) mm. Involucres turbinate-campanulate, (5-)6-7.5 × 5-7 mm. Phyllaries in (2-)3-4(-5) series, broadly obovate (outer) to broadly oblong-obovate, strongly unequal, sparsely strigoso-villous (outer) or essentially glabrous, margins with (pinkish purple) hyaline borders, sometimes slightly erose, usually densely ciliate, apices rounded to subtruncate. Florets 7-12; corolla tubes pilose inside. Cypselae 2.5-2.8 mm; pappi: lengths equaling or surpassing corollas, bristles barbellate.

Flowering Sep-Nov. Sandy pinelands, usually with longleaf pine or slash pine, pine-palmetto flats; 0-50 m; Fla., Ga., S.C.