| Liatris aspera | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Tribe: | Eupatorieae |
| Genus: | Liatris |
| Species: | L. aspera |
| Binomial name | |
| Liatris aspera Michx. |
|
Liatris aspera also known as the lacerate, rough, tall or prairie blazing star is a wildflower that is found the mid to eastern United States in habitats that range from mesic to dry prairie and dry savanna.
It grows to two to four feet. The flowers are an erect spike with numerous, purple, button-like, stalkless flower heads blooming from the top down. Leaves are alternate, numerous, rough, and narrow along the entire stem. It flowers from mid-August through September, with seed becoming ripe in October to November. One of the many plants and animals Meriwether Lewis and William Clark discovered on their journey to get to the Pacific Ocean.