About Liatris helleri (Porter) Porter
Liatris helleri (Porter) Porter is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, commonly known as Heller's blazing star and Heller's gayfeather. It is native to the Appalachian Mountains of the southeastern United States, where it occurs in the states of North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland. It is threatened by recreational activities in its habitat, and is federally listed as a threatened species in the United States. Liatris helleri is a perennial herb that grows up to approximately half a meter (20 inches) tall from a spherical corm. Its leaves vary in shape from linear to lance-shaped, and measure 5 to 22 centimeters (2.0 to 8.7 inches) in length; the largest leaves are found at the base of the plant, and leaves become much smaller higher up the stem. The inflorescence is a spike-like arrangement of numerous flower heads. Each flower head has purplish bell-shaped involucres that contain 7 to 13 (up to 17) lighter purple disc flowers, and no ray flowers. The species blooms from July to September. The fruit is an achene with a pappus that varies in length, but is generally shorter than the pappus of other Liatris species. A 2005 study expanded the species description of Liatris helleri to include plants with certain similar characteristics. Populations of plants growing in West Virginia and Virginia that were previously classified as the separate species Liatris turgida may now be included within the circumscription of L. helleri. If this reclassification holds, L. helleri is less rare than previously thought and is no longer a true endemic to North Carolina. Liatris helleri was added to the United States endangered species list with threatened status in 1987. At that time, it was only known to grow on cliffs along the summits of the northern Blue Ridge Mountains. These areas were heavily used for recreational activities such as hiking and skiing, or were at risk of being altered during the development of utilities including parking lots and bridges. In 1987, there were only seven known populations of the plant; an eighth population had been discovered by 2000. The estimated total global population of Liatris helleri is only 3,000 wild individuals, though additional individuals have been grown in greenhouses for outplanting into appropriate habitats.
