One sure sign that autumn is upon us here in Southwest Florida can be seen along the roadsides of the Preserve. The blazing-stars or gayfeathers (Liatris chapmanii), are in full glory along the south side of Thomasson Drive. For most of the year blazing-stars look like an inconspicuous grass in the scrub and flatwoods communities. However, in the fall, they become one our showiest native flowers, producing long spikes of beautiful purple to white flowers. The wispy flowering spikes are unique in that its flowers develop from the tip of the spike towards the base of the plant. These perennial beauties, members of the Aster family, attract both butterflies for nectar, and birds for their plentiful seed heads. This past spring, while rescuing plants from construction areas, I was surprised when I dug up a few dainty grass-like blazing-stars with corms nearly two inches across. These corms afford the plant protection from drought while allowing them to re-sprout quickly after a fire.
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