About Liatris ohlingerae (S.F.Blake) B.L.Rob.
Liatris ohlingerae is a rare species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, known by the common names Florida blazing star, Florida gayfeather, scrub blazing star, and sandtorch. It is endemic to Florida in the United States, and only occurs on the Lake Wales Ridge alongside many other rare plants. It is threatened by habitat loss and degradation, and is federally listed as an endangered species. This plant is a perennial herb that grows 30 centimeters to one meter in height from a cylindrical corm. Its leaves are glandular and linear in shape; the longest leaves, located near the base of the plant, can reach 15 centimeters long. The inflorescence is a flower head that holds up to 30 disc florets. It is lined with green phyllaries with purple edges, and contains tubular lavender corollas. This plant grows in Florida scrub habitat on the Lake Wales Ridge of Central Florida. It grows on rosemary balds in sand pine scrub, which are open areas where sunlight penetrates the canopy of taller vegetation. It also grows in the ecotone between open sunny areas and shaded understory, and shows some preference for shade. It often grows beneath Florida rosemary (Ceratiola ericoides) bushes, and is apparently resistant to the allelopathic compounds produced by the rosemary. This plant is pollinated by butterflies. This pollination relationship is necessary for the plant's reproduction, because Liatris ohlingerae is self-incompatible, meaning it cannot fertilize itself. The plant is relatively long-lived, often living over nine years. Herbivory often affects this plant. Its flower production is reduced when plants are "topped" by browsing vertebrates, most commonly white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Up to 30% of flower buds are consumed by boring insects. After seeds are dispersed, they are heavily predated by insects and vertebrates. As of 2009, there were 91 known occurrences of the plant. Some occurrences are located on protected land, so their habitat will not be lost to development or agriculture. However, even protected land is often improperly managed, and lacks the natural fire regime that the Florida scrub ecosystem depends on. When fire burns through this plant's habitat, Liatris ohlingerae can resprout from its corm.
