Liatris is a genus of flowering plants in the boneset tribe within the sunflower family native to North America (Canada, United States, Mexico and the Bahamas. Some species are used as ornamental plants, sometimes in flower bouquets.
They are perennials, surviving the winter in the form of corms.
Liatris have purple coloured flowers in dense heads forming a spike-like collection along the stems.
Liatris species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species.

An escapee plant growing in the Te Henui Valley, New Plymouth.

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Liatris species (Brazing star)