About Liatris aestivalis G.L.Nesom & O'Kennon
Liatris aestivalis grows from rounded corms, which produce hairless stems that reach 20 to 65 centimeters in height. This species produces dark purple flowers arranged in dense heads. These heads are closely grouped together, forming a cylindrical, spike-like cluster that surrounds the stems. The basal and cauline leaves each have a single nerve, and are linear to linear-lanceolate in shape. Flowering occurs in July and August, and sometimes continues into September. Seeds develop inside cypselae fruits that are 4.5 to 6 millimeters long, and these fruits have feathery, bristle-like pappi. Liatris aestivalis is native to Oklahoma and Texas in the United States. In this region, it grows in habitats ranging from limestone outcrops to slopes and the bases of slopes with shallow soils.
