Monday, July 27, 2009

Liatris pycnostachya

I got the chance at Fisher Oak Savanna to see several Liatris species side-by-side. It was helpful to see the difference in the involucral bracts. Liatris spicata has appressed involucral bracts (right), while those of Liatris pycnostachya are reflexed (left).

3 comments:

Keith Board said...

Good to know. Thanks Ben!

Bradford Slaughter said...

I find that the most useful characteristic in the key is that L. spicata occurs in Michigan, whereas L. pycnostachya does not.

ben said...

Brad, that is one of my favorite ways to differentiate plant species.