Images
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Morphology
- Stem
- Stiffly erect, 1 to several, unbranched, glabrous or short-hairy.
- Leaves
- Alternate, simple, stalked, uppermost sessile, linear-lanceolate to linear, 2 to 8 inches long, .25 to 1.5 inch wide, often covered with resinous dots; margins entire; upper leaves reduced in size.
- Inflorescence
- Elongate, spike-like, to 18 inches tall, with few to many well-separated heads; heads sessile or short-stalked, .5 to 1 inch wide; bracts purplish, wrinkled, glabrous, rounded at tips.
- Flower
- Ray florets absent; disk florets 16-40, rose-purple, corollas pubescent inside.
- Fruit
- Achenes, pubescent, ribbed, brown, tipped with many barbed bristles, enclosing small seed.
Ecology
- Habitat
- Dry, open, rocky or sandy prairies.
- Distribution
- East half of Kansas.
Practical Information
- Forage Value
- When in the early growth stage, tall gayfeather is grazed by livestock.
- Uses
- Some Great Plains tribes of Native Americans used the boiled leaves and roots to treat intestinal pains.
Additional Notes
Comments
The name button gayfeather comes from the button-like appearance of the flower heads prior to blooming. It is sometimes used in dried floral arrangements.
Quick Facts
- Plant Type
- Wildflower
- Family
- Asteraceae - Sunflower Family
- Life Span
- Perennial
- Height
- 16-48 inches
- Last Updated
- 2021-03-07
Color Groups
Blue, Purple, Lavender & Violet Wildflowers
Flowering Period
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Blooms: August, September