Loosescale gayfeather, colicroot

Serratula squarrosa Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 818. 1753; Lacinaria squarrosa (Linnaeus) Hill

Plants 30–80 cm. Corms globose to slightly elongate. Stems glabrous or puberulent-villous. Leaves: basal and proximal cauline 3–5-nerved, broadly linear to linear-oblanceolate, 70–220 × 2–12 mm (largest usually distal to proximalmost), gradually reduced distally, puberulent-villous or glabrous, weakly gland-dotted. Heads borne singly or (3–26) in loose, racemiform to spiciform arrays. Peduncles 0 or (spreading to ascending) 1–8(–20+) mm. Involucres cylindro-campanulate, 12–20(–25) × 7–10 mm. Phyllaries (usually erect, sometimes spreading-reflexing on the distal ¹/3) in 5–7 series, narrowly ovate-triangular and foliaceous (outer) to ovate or oblong-triangular, ± equal, glabrous or pubescent, margins without hyaline borders, stiffly to softly ciliate, apices acuminate to acute. Florets (10–)23–45(–60); corolla tubes glabrous inside (lobes adaxially hispid). Cypselae 4–5.5 mm; pappi: lengths ± equaling corollas, bristles plumose.

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora): United States.

See discussion under 1. Liatris compacta.