Rough Blazing Star - Wozupi App

General Details

Dakota Name:

Aoƞtashe

Scientific Name:

Liatris aspera

Alternate Names:

Tall Blazing Star, Gayfeather

Height:

Grows 1 – 4 feet tall

Flowers:

Many round purple flowers grow on a large spike. Blooms July to September

Fruit:

Cylinder seed capsules with white wispy hairs replace the flowers

Habitat:

Prairies, ditches, sandy soils

Plant Characteristics

Blazing star has narrow leaves growing alternately on the stem. The individual leaves can grow 3 to 12 inches long and 1-1/2 inch across. The large leaves appear at the bottom of the plant and get smaller towards the top. The purple flowers also bloom from the top down. The individual flowers are about 1 inches across. There may be anywhere from 25 to 40 flowers. Numerous purple to pink flowers appear towards the top of the plant eventually being replaced with hairy seeds.

Dakota Cultural Use

A decoction was made with the leaves and tubers (rounded stems growing just underground) and given to children for diarrhea. The corm (bulbous part of a root) was chewed and then blown into the nose of horses to help them run without getting out of breath. The flower heads mixed with shelled corn was fed to the horses to help them be swift and keep them in good shape. A poultice of the powder from the plant was applied to the skin for inflammation. The roots were eaten as an appetizer. The plant was also eaten for trouble in the abdomen.