| 0 | OPGC 2283 | Northern Iowa-Eco zone Germplasm | Liatris pycnostachya Michx. | Iowa, United States | OPGC | | Not Available | 2005 | COLLECTED | PRE 2001 | Numerous samples originally acquired from native prairie remnants within the northern section of three tiers of counties located in Iowa. A total of sites 14 were sampled representing 9 counties including Brenner, Fayette (3 sites), Chickasaw (4 sites), Palo Alto, Howard, Cherokee, Butler, Cerro-Gordo, Pocahontas (2 sites). | | | | Wild material | NRCS description: Hardy perennial, erect often resinous herb, simple or branched, and arising from a tuber. The narrow leaves on the lower two-thirds of the plant are so crowded that they may appear spiraled rather than closely alternate. Lower leaves are larger, up to 4 inches long and 1/2 inch wide, than those farther up the stem. Both the stem and leaves usually display short, stiff hairs. The top two-thirds is a spike of rose-purple, thistle-like flowers that are give a somewhat fuzzy appearance be extended white stamen and pistils. Flowering starts at the tope of the spike and moves progressively downward. The oblong flower head has a mass of 5 to 12 tubular florets that somewhat resembles those of horsemint. A dense circle of bracts surrounds the base of each flower head. The tips of these long, pointed bracts tend to spread and curve back toward their bases. Bracts of this species may have a purplish tinge. All produce flowers in wandlike spikes or racemes. Their flowers are produced in late summer and autumn. They multiply by offsets from their cormlike base, or by seed which should be sown in autumn. They will grow and produce flowers in poorer soil than most garden plants, but thrive best in good, rich garden soil, and require no special care. Pycnostachya is one of the most conspicuous of the prairie inhabitants. Its leafy stem grows erect total height of 5 feet. The slender seeds are usually less than 1/4 inch long. The seed narrows toward the base and is tipped with a set of soft bristles about a long as the seed itself. Close examination of the seed shows 10 ribs or ridges. Occurs throughout the tallgrass prairie biome, often in thick stands on damp prairies and open bottom lands. Flowering begins in July and may continue until frost. Averages 131,000 seeds per pound. A seeding rate of 40 pure live seeds (PLS) per linear foot in 36 to 40 inch rows (4.4 pounds PLS per acre) is sufficient for seed production. Seed should be planted 1/4 inch deep in a firm relatively weed free seed bed. Seedling vigor is good and stands are comparatively easy to establish where competition is controlled. Mowing above the height and cultivating between the rows of Liatris pycnostachya have been used to reduce early competition when weeds begin to encroach into the planting. Seed should be planted in the fall (mid-October to mid-November or frost seeding during late October to late March in the Midwest United States). Seeds can also be stratified to obtain germination, by mixing seeds in damp sterile media and store in refrigerator (33-38 degrees F) for 60 days. Two months of this cold storage before planting is normally required to break the dormancy of this species. Seed yields are good and can be harvested with a combine. Seed production may yield 150-200 pounds per acre. Collections of prairie blazing star from east to west across Iowa guarantee adaptation of releases to this zone. | 1690908 | OPGC 2283 |
| 1 | NSL 439942 | Central Iowa Eco-zone Germplasm | Liatris pycnostachya Michx. | Iowa, United States | OPGC | | Not Available | 2004 | COLLECTED | PRE 2000 | Numerous samples originally acquired from native prairie remnants within the central section of three tiers of counties located in Iowa. A total of 30 sites were sampled representing 17 counties including Buchanan (3 sites), Dubuque (2 sites), Jones, Black Hawk (3 sites), Polk, Webster (3 sites), Audubon, Johnson (3 sites), Delaware, Greene, Boone, Story (4 sites), Hardin, Calhoun, Jasper (2 sites), Shelby, Guthrie. | | | | Wild material | | 1694849 | NSL 439942 |
| 2 | OPGC 205 | Northern Iowa Eco-zone Germplasm | Liatris pycnostachya Michx. | Iowa, United States | OPGC | | Not Available | 2003 | COLLECTED | PRE 2001 | Numerous samples originally acquired from native prairie remnants within the northern section of three tiers of counties located in Iowa. A total of sites 14 were sampled representing 9 counties including Brenner, Fayette (3 sites), Chickasaw (4 sites), Palo Alto, Howard, Cherokee, Butler, Cerro-Gordo, Pocahontas (2 sites). | | | | Wild material | | 1658281 | OPGC 205 |
| 3 | OPGC 206 | Central Iowa Eco-zone Germplasm | Liatris pycnostachya Michx. | Iowa, United States | OPGC | | Not Available | 2003 | COLLECTED | PRE 2001 | Numerous samples originally acquired from native prairie remnants within the central section of three tiers of counties located in Iowa. A total of 30 sites were sampled representing 17 counties including Buchanan (3 sites), Dubuque (2 sites), Jones, Black Hawk (3 sites), Polk, Webster (3 sites), Audubon, Johnson (3 sites), Delaware, Greene, Boone, Story (4 sites), Hardin, Calhoun, Jasper (2 sites), Shelby, Guthrie. | | | | Wild material | | 1658282 | OPGC 206 |