Ouachita Blazing Star
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Ouachita Blazing Star
liatris compacta
The Ouachita Blazing Star (Liatris compacta) is a rare and striking perennial wildflower endemic to the rugged Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas and Oklahoma. Standing out with its compact, densely packed spikes of purple-magenta flower heads, this resilient plant thrives where many others cannot—clinging to rocky sandstone and novaculite glades and open, thin-soiled woodlands. It plays a crucial ecological role in its restricted habitat, offering a vital nectar source for late-season pollinators. Unlike some of its wider-ranging relatives, the Ouachita Blazing Star has adapted specifically to the unique geologic formations of its mountainous home. Its late-summer blooms provide a sudden, brilliant splash of color against the dry, rocky outcrops, making it a highly sought-after sight for native plant enthusiasts and hikers exploring the Ouachita National Forest.
Habitat: Found in sandstone and novaculite glades, rocky outcrops, and open pine-oak woodlands with thin, acidic soils.
Appearance
This compact herb typically grows between 20 to 50 centimeters tall, featuring upright, stiff stems that are densely crowded with narrow, grass-like leaves. In late summer, it produces a striking, unbranched spike of flower heads. Each flower head consists of vibrant purple to magenta disk florets, with no ray florets, giving them a fuzzy, feathered appearance. The bracts beneath the flower heads are distinctly appressed and sticky, which is a key distinguishing feature of this species compared to other blazing stars.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderAsteralesFamilyAsteraceaeGenusLiatris
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
It is endemic to only a small handful of counties in Arkansas and Oklahoma, growing wild nowhere else in the world.
Its underground corm, a bulb-like stem, allows it to quickly sprout and regenerate after low-intensity wildfires.
The species name 'compacta' refers to its smaller, more condensed growth form compared to other blazing stars.
Special abilities
Ability
Glade Adaptation
It thrives in nutrient-poor, rocky, and acidic soils where few other competing plant species can survive.
Ability
Drought Resilience
Features a deep, tuberous root system (corm) that stores water and nutrients, helping it survive hot, dry summer conditions.
Ability
Pollinator Magnet
Produces nectar with high sugar concentration during late summer, specifically timed to aid migrating butterflies and local bees.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 20-50 cm
- Weight
- 0.02-0.1 kg
- Lifespan
- 3-10 years
Diet & Feeding
As a photoautotrophic plant, it produces its own food through photosynthesis, utilizing sunlight, carbon dioxide, water, and soil minerals.
Primary Foods
- Sunlight
- Water
- Carbon Dioxide
- Soil Minerals
Ecological connections
mutualism
Monarch Butterfly
Danaus plexippus
Pollinates the flowers while gathering nectar.
eaten by
White-tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
Feeds on the leaves and stems during spring growth.
mutualism
American Bumblebee
Bombus pensylvanicus
Collects pollen and nectar, facilitating plant reproduction.
Traits
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Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
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Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to identify Ouachita Blazing Star?
The easiest way to identify Ouachita Blazing Star is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
How long is Ouachita Blazing Star?
20-50 cm
How much does Ouachita Blazing Star weigh?
0.02-0.1 kg
How long does Ouachita Blazing Star live?
3-10 years
What does Ouachita Blazing Star eat?
As a photoautotrophic plant, it produces its own food through photosynthesis, utilizing sunlight, carbon dioxide, water, and soil minerals.
Where is Ouachita Blazing Star usually found?
Found in sandstone and novaculite glades, rocky outcrops, and open pine-oak woodlands with thin, acidic soils.
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