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Liatris punctata - Hook.

Common Name Snakeroot, Dotted blazing star, Mexican blazing star, Nebraska blazing star
Family Asteraceae or Compositae
USDA hardiness 3-7
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Dry prairies and plains[43].
Range Eastern N. America - Alberta to New Mexico and Texas, east to Minnesota and Nebraska..
Edibility Rating    (1 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Liatris punctata Snakeroot, Dotted blazing star, Mexican blazing star, Nebraska blazing star


http://www.nps.gov
Liatris punctata Snakeroot, Dotted blazing star, Mexican blazing star, Nebraska blazing star
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:SriMesh

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Liatris punctata is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 3. It is in flower from August to September, and the seeds ripen in October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees.
It is noted for attracting wildlife.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Laciniaria punctata. (Hook.)Kuntze.

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Root
Edible Uses:

Root - raw or cooked[46, 61, 105, 161, 212, 257]. A sweet flavour when harvested in the spring and baked[257]. Eating the root is said to improve the appetite[257].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antipruritic  Diuretic  Poultice  Stomachic

An infusion of the roots has been used in the treatment of stomach aches, bloody urine and women's bladder complaints[257]. The root has been chewed and the juice swallowed in the treatment of swollen testes[257]. A decoction of the roots is used as a wash for itching skin complaints[238, 257]. A poultice of the boiled roots is applied to swellings[257].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

Attracts Wildlife

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Grows well in a moderately good light soil[200].Tolerates poor soils[200]. Plants are prone to rot overwinter in wet soils[200]. A good bee plant. Rodents are very fond of the tubers so the plants may require some protection[200].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in autumn in a greenhouse[200]. Sow stored seed as soon as possible in the year in a greenhouse. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow the plants on in the greenhouse for their first year. Plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer. Division in spring[1]. Larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring. Basal cuttings taken in spring as growth commences. Harvest the shoots when they are about 10cm long with plenty of underground stem. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada (Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba), United States (Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Texas), Mexico (Chihuahua, Coahuila de Zaragoza, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas (north))

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Liatris chapmaniiChapman's Blazing StarPerennial0.0 -  LMSNDM01 
Liatris scariosaDevil's BitePerennial0.8 3-7  LMSNDM02 
Liatris spicataGayfeather, Dense blazing star, Spiked Blazing Star, Button Snakewot, Gayfeather, Spiked Gayfeather,Perennial0.6 3-9 MLMSNMWe032
Liatris squarrosaScaly blazing star, Alabama blazing starPerennial0.9 4-8  LMSNDM011

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

Hook.

Botanical References

43200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

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Subject : Liatris punctata  
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