9. Lacinaria Graminifolia (Walt.) Kuntze. Loose-Flowered Button- Snakeroot

Fig. 4185

Anonymos graminifolius Walt. Fl. Car. 197.

1788. Liatris graminifolia Pursh, Fl. Am. Sept.

2: 508. 1814. Not Willd. 1804. L.graminif. Kuntze, Rev. Gen. Pl. 349. 1891. Liatris graminifolia var. dubia A. Gray, Man. Ed. 2, 185. 1856.

Glabrous, or sparingly pubescent, 1°-3° high. Leaves similar to those of the preceding species, but more conspicuously punctate, usually somewhat ciliate, at least near the base and acute or acutish at the apex; heads spicate, racemose or sometimes panicled, mostly peduncled; involucre obovoid, narrowed or acute at the base, 2"-4" broad, its bracts distinctly punctate, appressed, rounded, more or less scarious-margined, thick; flowers purple; pappus barbellate; achenes hairy.

In dry soil, New Jersey to Florida. Fine-leaved blazing-star. Aug.-Sept.

10. Lacinaria Pilosa (Ait.) Heller. Mountain Button-Snakeroot

Fig. 4186

Serratula pilosa Ait. Hort. Kew. 3: 138. 1789. L. pilosa Heller, Muhlenbergia 1: 6. 1900.

Glabrous, except the ciliate leaf-bases and involucral bracts, 5'-31/4° tall, simple. Leaves rather numerous, the basal often fully half as long as the stem, with broadly linear or linear-oblong blades, the upper stem leaves much smaller, with linear blades, all more or less ciliate near the base; involucres turbinate, 2V-3" broad, sessile or short-peduncled, the bracts purple, the outer ovate or oval, the middle ones with oval or ovate blades and short claws, the inner linear or linear-spatulate, all obtuse and rather broadly margined; pappus barbellate; achenes 2V-3" long, hairy.

In dry or rocky soil, Virginia and West Virginia to Georgia and Alabama. July-Sept.

11. Lacinaria Smallii Britton. Small's Button-Snakeroot

Fig. 4187

Lacinaria Smallii Britton, Manual 927. 1901.

Similar to L. graminifolia. Stem very slender, 1°-2° high. Leaves scattered, linear, 2"-5" wide, acute, pubescent on the midvein beneath, spreading, very punctate; heads scattered, sessile in the axils of the upper small leaves, the uppermost leaves not larger than the involucral bracts; involucre oblong-campanulate, about 8-flowered, about 5" high, its innermost bracts linear, acute or acutish, the outermost obtusish, all punctate; flowers purple; pappus plumose.

Iron Mountain, Smyth Co., Virginia. Aug.

Lacinaria Helleri (Porter) Heller, of the North Carolina mountains, with narrower involucral bracts and erect or ascending leaves, is recorded from Virginia.