Endangered Species: False Unicorn Profile

Chamaelirium lutetium

Also, Known As:

• Blazing Star
• Devil’s Bit
• False Unicorn
• Helonias Root

During the colonial period in North America, people used false unicorn, also known as Liatris (botanical name Chamaelirium lutetium) as a medicinal herb. However, its current use is strictly limited to being an ornamental plant. In fact, false unicorn is preferred by florists while arranging cut flowers for any customer owing to the exquisite lavender spikes of the plant’s fluffy flowers. Dissimilar to the majority of the different spike blooms, false unicorn flowers are an omission from the rule. The flowers of this herb develop at the apex of the spikes in a descending pattern. The flowering spikes of the false unicorn may be about two feet or even longer and have either purple or lavender hue.

The false unicorn is a perennially growing plant that is indigenous to the United States and is found growing in…