Liatris compacta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Liatris compacta |
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Liatris compacta, also known as Arkansas gayfeather, is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the sunflower family and the Liatris group. This plant is special because it grows naturally in a specific area of the United States. You can find it in the Ouachita Mountains of western Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma.
Liatris compacta likes to grow in places like rocky ridges, hillsides, and open woods. It often grows where the ground is made of weathered sandstone. This plant usually blooms from June to September, but sometimes it starts as early as May. Its flowers are purple and grow in small groups called heads. For a long time, scientists thought it was just a different kind of Liatris squarrosa.
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What Does Arkansas Gayfeather Look Like?
Liatris compacta grows from a round, underground stem called a corm. Its main stems are smooth and can grow to be about 22 to 50 centimeters (8.8 to 20 inches) tall.
Its Flowers and Leaves
The purple flowers grow in groups called heads. Each head can have 18 to 25 individual flowers. These heads might grow alone or in small bunches of 2 to 5. Underneath each flower head, there are large, leaf-like parts called bracts. The small stems that connect the flower heads to the main stem are 3 to 25 millimeters (0.12 to 1 inch) long.
The flower heads are arranged in a way that looks like a loose spike or a cluster. The leaves at the bottom of the plant are shaped like long ovals and have 3 to 5 main veins. These lower leaves often dry up before the plant starts to flower. All the leaves are smooth and might have tiny dots that produce a sticky substance. The leaves get smaller as they go up the stem towards the flowers.
Seeds
After the flowers bloom, the plant produces seeds. These seeds are found inside small fruits called cypselae. Each fruit is about 5.5 to 8 millimeters long and has feathery bristles, which help the seeds spread.
How is Arkansas Gayfeather Related to Other Plants?
Liatris compacta is very similar to another plant called Liatris squarrosa. In the past, many people thought they were the same species. However, Liatris compacta has some differences in its shape and grows in different places. It also prefers different types of habitats.
Similar Species
There are a few other Liatris species that look quite alike. These include Liatris hirsuta and Liatris cylindracea. All four of these plants have flower parts that are shaped like cylinders. They also have tiny hairs on their flower petals. When these similar plants grow in the same areas, they can sometimes mix together. This mixing, called hybridization, can make it hard to tell them apart.
