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Rough Blazingstar

Asteraceae Family - "Rough Blazingstar, Gayfeather, Button Snakeroot, Tall Gayfeather"

Liatris is of an unknown derivation. Aspera comes from the Latin word meaning "rough" of "harsh", referring to the feel of the leaves.

Rough Blazingstar is found on dry, sandy soils throughout the Tallgrass region. A perennial growing from 1 to four feet with a densely-flowered raceme of rose-purple flowers from July into September.

The genus Liatris enjoyed widespread use by Native Americans. The bulbs were fed to horses to increase the horse's endurance. As for human use, this genus acted as a diuretic, stimulant, diaphoretic and emmenagogue. The corms of L. aspera were dug and stored for winter food use and a tea made from the leaves was used to treat snake bite and stomach aches.