Turkey Creek Carphephorus and Liatris

Here are simplified keys to the Carphephorus and Liatris found in Brevard County. The keys focus on the inflorescence, since my photos are sometimes limited to that part of the plant.

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Carphephorus Species

1. Infloresence not a corymb...... C. paniculatus
1. Infloresence a corymb
	2. Stem smooth...... C. odoratissimus
	2. Stem hairy
		3. Bract tips blunt, bracts green, white margins...... C. corymbosus
		3. Bracts hairy, spine-tipped...... C. carnosus

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Liatris Species

1. Heads all on one side, on stalks...... L. pauciflora
1. Heads not all on one side
	2. Heads on stalks
			3. Stem hairy...... L. gracilis
			3. Stem not hairy...... L. tenuifolia
	2. Heads not on stalks
		4. Bracts sharp-tipped
			5. Bracts green...... L. chapmanii
			5. Bracts brown/purple, bumpy...... L. garberi
		4. Bracts not sharp-tipped, greenish/purple...... L. spicata

Photos of Carphephorus and Liatris in Turkey Creek Sanctuary:

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Florida paintbrush, coastalplain chaffhead (Carphephorus corymbosus, Asteraceae)

Native

These photos taken on October 24, 2010. Inflorescence is a corymb, stem is hairy, and bracts are green with white margins. Also, heads are pink or pale purple.

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Florida paintbrush, coastalplain chaffhead (Carphephorus corymbosus, Asteraceae)
Native

These photos taken on November 5, 2010. This plant was clearly past its prime. Stem is hairy, bracts are green with white margins, and basal leaves are spatulate.

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Blazing star, shortleaf gayfeather (Liatris tenuifolia var. quadriflora, Asteraceae)
Native

Photos taken on October 24. Heads not all on one side, heads on stalks, and stems not hairy.

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Blazing star, shortleaf gayfeather (Liatris tenuifolia var. quadriflora, Asteraceae)
Native

Photos taken on November 5.  Heads not all on one side, heads on stalks, and stems not hairy. Also, leaves are linear, basal leaves are grass-like.

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Blazing star, Chapman's gayfeather (Liatris chapmanii, Asteraceae)

Native

Photos taken on November 5. Heads not all on one side, heads not on stalks, bracts sharp-tipped and green.

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Blazing star, fewflower gayfeather (Liatris pauciflora, Asteraceae)
Native

Photos taken November 5. Heads are all on one side, which makes it Liatris Pauciflora. However, according to the USF/ISB website, this species is not found in Brevard County. Perhaps it was planted in the park. Another possibility is that the heads only appeared to be on one side. Maybe when the stem fell over, the heads twisted around to be on the top side.

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Small area of blazing stars

Photo taken on November 5.

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