{"assessment":{"band":"Strong","factor_identity":{"basis":"approved shared identity","growth_habit_source":"USDA PLANTS","name_used":"Liatris helleri"},"factor_scopes":{"bees":"Southeastern North America","birds":"North America","caterpillars":"Host genera of native Lepidoptera with established West Virginia range; association and range overlap, not confirmed local feeding.","specialists":"Eastern North America","structure":"USDA species growth habit where matched; otherwise sourced atlas growth habit"},"factors":{"applied_insect_credit":0,"baseline_score":52,"composite":0.677,"insect_support":{"credit":0,"groups":{"ants":{"credit":0,"flower_visits":[],"label":"Ants","recorded_name_count":null,"recorded_names":[],"seed_interactions":[],"status":"unknown"},"beetles":{"credit":0,"flower_visits":[],"label":"Beetles","recorded_name_count":null,"recorded_names":[],"seed_interactions":[],"status":"unknown"},"flies":{"credit":0,"flower_visits":[],"label":"Flies","recorded_name_count":null,"recorded_names":[],"seed_interactions":[],"status":"unknown"},"moths_butterflies":{"credit":0,"flower_visits":[],"label":"Adult butterflies / moths","recorded_name_count":null,"recorded_names":[],"seed_interactions":[],"status":"unknown"},"other_hymenoptera":{"credit":0,"flower_visits":[],"label":"Other wasps","recorded_name_count":null,"recorded_names":[],"seed_interactions":[],"status":"unknown"},"other_insects":{"credit":0,"flower_visits":[],"label":"Other insects","recorded_name_count":null,"recorded_names":[],"seed_interactions":[],"status":"unknown"}},"interpretation":"One provisional point per additional documented insect group, capped at five. Flower visits are a resource-use proxy, not confirmed feeding or pollination. Missing evidence is unknown. Study volume and repeated records earn no extra credit.","maximum_credit":5,"version":"insect-support-1"},"pct":{"bees":0.9739454094292804,"birds":0.303970223325062,"caterpillars":0.5682382133995038,"specialists":0.9733250620347395,"structure":0.5},"rank_pct":0.544,"raw":{"bees":46,"birds":0,"caterpillars":3,"genus_used":null,"specialists":8,"structure":["Forb/herb"]}},"fit_score":null,"native_basis":"native_inferred","rarity_adjustment":0,"rarity_policy":"Conservation status is displayed separately and never changes ecological scores, including when unranked.","reason":"Calculated with the shared rules using West Virginia host-range and shared ecological evidence.","reference":"NC native reference cohort, method 0.6.4; not a West Virginia percentile","score":52,"scoring_inputs":{"harm_penalty":0,"invasive":false,"invasive_rank":null,"native":true,"state_rank":""},"source_ids":["lep_wv","globi","bigbee","avian","usdahabit","robertson","antseed"],"status":"scored_provisional","version":"shared-0.6.5"},"condition_evidence":{"light":{"evidence_id":"fact:285bb580adf442790fe377a82eb419e19b94e128701a446981a31d5c0eb16cd4","levels":[4],"policy":"selected-condition-categories-2","range":[4,4],"scope":{"kind":"region","region_id":"floraquest_nc_sc_ga"},"semantics":"documented_native_habitat_conditions","source_field":"habitat_light_categories","source_label":"Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition","source_url":"https://fsus.ncbg.unc.edu/","status":"mapped_selected_fact"},"moisture":{"evidence_id":"fact:c976a74080e8d4e53d99653c3e91b0e41094363dd585ea32a8a9bf4aea468e91","levels":[0,3],"policy":"selected-condition-categories-2","range":[0,3],"scope":{"kind":"region","region_id":"floraquest_nc_sc_ga"},"semantics":"documented_native_habitat_conditions","source_field":"habitat_moisture_categories","source_label":"Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition","source_url":"https://fsus.ncbg.unc.edu/","status":"mapped_selected_fact"}},"evidence":{"fit_score":null,"growth_habit":["Forb/herb"],"invasive_status":{"status":"unresolved"},"native_status":{"status":"native_inferred"},"occurrence":{"county_fips":["54025","54063"],"meaning":"Recorded occurrence; not a county native-range assertion"},"quercus_score":null,"regional":{"county_fips":["54025","54063"],"growth_habit":null,"growth_habit_source":null,"invasive":null,"invasive_evidence":[],"invasive_rank":null,"native":true,"native_basis":"national_source","native_decided_by":"usda","native_evidence":[{"claim":"native","matched_name":"Liatris helleri","scope":"L48","source":"usda","text":"L48:N","url":"https://plants.usda.gov/"},{"claim":"native","matched_name":"Liatris helleri","scope":"NC","source":"nc_flora","url":"https://auth1.dpr.ncparks.gov/flora/"},{"basis":"native range text in the regional flora","claim":"native","scope":"NC-SC-GA","source":"floraquest_carolinas_georgia","text":"Nw. North Carolina, especially Grandfather Mountain and its southeastern slopes.","url":"https://fsus.ncbg.unc.edu/"},{"basis":"species account without the alien asterisk","claim":"native_distribution","matched_name":"Liatris helleri","scope":"AL-AR-DC-DE-FL-GA-KY-LA-MD-MS-NC-NJ-PA-SC-TN-VA-WV","source":"weakley_fsus","url":"https://fsus.ncbg.unc.edu/"}],"native_explanation":"USDA PLANTS (government agency, national claim) gives the value. Speaks for its own area (GA-NC-SC, NC), not this state: Vascular Plants of North Carolina (NC Natural Heritage Program), Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition.","native_provenance":{"flags":["broader_scope"],"source":"usda","specificity":"national","tier":"government"},"native_status":"native_inferred","package_native_status":"native_supported","source_ids":["natureserve_explorer:WV:ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.858727"],"source_name":"Liatris helleri","source_refs":["gbif_specimens","natureserve_explorer"],"source_url":"https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.858727","state_rank":null},"source_refs":["gbif_specimens","natureserve_explorer"],"source_url":"https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.858727","state_rank":{"value":null}},"fit_inputs":{"light":[4,4],"moisture":[0,3],"ph":null},"fit_provenance":{"counties":"USDA PLANTS: recorded in 1 NC counties","light":"Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition","moisture":"Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition"},"fit_record":{"band":"Strong","condition_evidence":{"light":{"evidence_id":"fact:285bb580adf442790fe377a82eb419e19b94e128701a446981a31d5c0eb16cd4","levels":[4],"policy":"selected-condition-categories-2","range":[4,4],"scope":{"kind":"region","region_id":"floraquest_nc_sc_ga"},"semantics":"documented_native_habitat_conditions","source_field":"habitat_light_categories","source_label":"Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition","source_url":"https://fsus.ncbg.unc.edu/","status":"mapped_selected_fact"},"moisture":{"evidence_id":"fact:c976a74080e8d4e53d99653c3e91b0e41094363dd585ea32a8a9bf4aea468e91","levels":[0,3],"policy":"selected-condition-categories-2","range":[0,3],"scope":{"kind":"region","region_id":"floraquest_nc_sc_ga"},"semantics":"documented_native_habitat_conditions","source_field":"habitat_moisture_categories","source_label":"Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition","source_url":"https://fsus.ncbg.unc.edu/","status":"mapped_selected_fact"}},"county_fips":["37027","51005","51009","51015","51017","51019","51021","51023","51035","51045","51071","51079","51113","51121","51125","51139","51155","51161","51163","51165","51185","51191","51197","54025","54063"],"fit_inputs":{"light":[4,4],"moisture":[0,3],"ph":null},"fit_note":"Shared sunlight, moisture and pH calculation; county geography is an additional layer. Missing source traits remain unknown.","fit_provenance":{"counties":"USDA PLANTS: recorded in 1 NC counties","light":"Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition","moisture":"Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition"},"garden_suitability":{"default_excluded":true,"flags":[{"code":"conservation_caution","default_excluded":true,"label":"Federally threatened","listed_names":{"Liatris helleri":"LT"},"message":"Excluded from routine garden suggestions. Consult conservation guidance before obtaining or planting this species.","source":"https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/5962"}],"review_status":"reviewed","suggestions_excluded":true},"invasive_rank":false,"native_eligible":true,"quercus_score":52,"state":"WV"},"garden_suitability":{"default_excluded":true,"flags":[{"code":"conservation_caution","default_excluded":true,"label":"Federally threatened","listed_names":{"Liatris helleri":"LT"},"message":"Excluded from routine garden suggestions. Consult conservation guidance before obtaining or planting this species.","source":"https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/5962"}],"review_status":"reviewed","suggestions_excluded":true},"growing_observations":{"floraquest_carolinas_georgia":{"matched_name":"Liatris helleri","retrieved":"2026-10-04T13:31:16.252589+00:00","scope":{"kind":"region","region_id":"floraquest_nc_sc_ga"},"scope_note":"Original regional ecological and identification evidence; no location-specific gardening adjustments.","source_label":"Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition","source_name":"Liatris helleri","source_record_id":6193,"source_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_url":"https://fsus.ncbg.unc.edu/","trait_evidence":[{"field":"habitat_description","source_column":"HabitatText","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":6193,"source_table":"Organism","value":"High elevation rock outcrops, sometimes on ledges of precipitous cliffs, rocky openings in heath balds."},{"field":"geographic_range_description","source_column":"Description","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":6193,"source_table":"Organism","value":"Nw. North Carolina, especially Grandfather Mountain and its southeastern slopes."},{"field":"phenology_source_text","source_column":"Phenology","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":6193,"source_table":"Organism","value":"Jul-mid Sep."},{"field":"taxonomic_synonymy","source_column":"Synonymy","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":6193,"source_table":"Organism","value":"[= K1, NS, RAB, SE1, W, Gaiser (1946), Godfrey (1948); = Laciniaria helleri (Porter) Porter ex A.Heller — S; Liatris helleri T.C. Porter — FNA21, K4, NSProv, POWO, Nesom (2005c)]"},{"field":"botanical_comments","source_column":"Comments","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":6193,"source_table":"Organism","value":"Nesom (2005c) recommended lumping L. helleri and L. turgida . Recent molecular studies show strong molecular differentiation between the two, but with a narrower circumscription of L. helleri , with some higher elevation populations away from Grandfather Mountain (and Roan Mountain?) being better assigned to L. turgida . New morphological studies are planned to find characters to reliably differentiate what are here provisionally accepted as two species."},{"field":"heliophily_index","source_column":"HIndex","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":6193,"source_table":"Organism","value":9},{"field":"habitat_moisture_categories","source_column":"Attr2","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":6193,"source_table":"GraphicKey","value":["Dry","Moist"]},{"field":"habitat_light_categories","source_column":"Attr3","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":6193,"source_table":"GraphicKey","value":["Full sun"]},{"field":"graphic_key_source_attributes","source_column":"Attr0..25","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":6193,"source_table":"GraphicKey","value":{"Attr0":"gr08","Attr1":"nc_mt,","Attr10":"en","Attr11":"dk","Attr13":"pi,pur","Attr14":"bris","Attr2":"Dry,Moist","Attr3":"Sun","Attr3a":"y","Attr3a_subregion":"native_nc_mt:y,","Attr4":" 6-9","Attr5":"gl","Attr6":"n","Attr7":"n,y","Attr8":"alt","Attr9":"si"}},{"field":"bloom_season","source_column":"Phenology","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":6193,"source_table":"Organism","value":"July to mid September"}],"values":{"bloom_season":"July to mid September","botanical_comments":"Nesom (2005c) recommended lumping L. helleri and L. turgida . Recent molecular studies show strong molecular differentiation between the two, but with a narrower circumscription of L. helleri , with some higher elevation populations away from Grandfather Mountain (and Roan Mountain?) being better assigned to L. turgida . New morphological studies are planned to find characters to reliably differentiate what are here provisionally accepted as two species.","geographic_range_description":"Nw. North Carolina, especially Grandfather Mountain and its southeastern slopes.","graphic_key_source_attributes":{"Attr0":"gr08","Attr1":"nc_mt,","Attr10":"en","Attr11":"dk","Attr13":"pi,pur","Attr14":"bris","Attr2":"Dry,Moist","Attr3":"Sun","Attr3a":"y","Attr3a_subregion":"native_nc_mt:y,","Attr4":" 6-9","Attr5":"gl","Attr6":"n","Attr7":"n,y","Attr8":"alt","Attr9":"si"},"habitat_description":"High elevation rock outcrops, sometimes on ledges of precipitous cliffs, rocky openings in heath balds.","habitat_light_categories":["Full sun"],"habitat_moisture_categories":["Dry","Moist"],"heliophily_index":9,"phenology_source_text":"Jul-mid Sep.","taxonomic_synonymy":"[= K1, NS, RAB, SE1, W, Gaiser (1946), Godfrey (1948); = Laciniaria helleri (Porter) Porter ex A.Heller — S; Liatris helleri T.C. Porter — FNA21, K4, NSProv, POWO, Nesom (2005c)]"}},"wildflower_center":{"matched_name":"Liatris helleri","retrieved":"2026-10-05T19:52:16.087347+00:00","scope":{"kind":"unspecified"},"scope_note":"Source-reported species characteristics; not a location-specific estimate.","source_label":"Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center","source_sha256":"4f55ea7217d67d917f9a48ba78703a6e8a9e63944d2fb9347949c23152b0f12f","source_url":"https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=LIHE2","trait_evidence":[{"expected_source_name":"Liatris helleri","field":"height_description","original_field":"height","record_id":"trait:80398aafd357588e5b49005b786e01e20a4d32b566ca7abb452c15646e0da287","retrieved_at":"2026-10-05T19:52:16.087347+00:00","scope":{"kind":"unspecified"},"scope_note":"Species profile; distribution and native-status discovery filters do not establish local growing or bloom timing.","source":"wildflower","source_name":"Liatris helleri","source_sha256":"4f55ea7217d67d917f9a48ba78703a6e8a9e63944d2fb9347949c23152b0f12f","source_url":"https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=LIHE2","status":"eligible_fact","taxon_id":"taxon:38ec2108-cce9-5aa7-a54b-320481bc62fd","value":{"approximate":true,"kind":"upper_bound","max":2,"unit":"feet"}},{"expected_source_name":"Liatris helleri","field":"flower_color","original_field":"flower_color","record_id":"trait:d81f2bdce79fe3809fcf09cca61f8232d1330185b4d2b2b4b6f341ba76f1cce6","retrieved_at":"2026-10-05T19:52:16.087347+00:00","scope":{"kind":"unspecified"},"scope_note":"Species profile; distribution and native-status discovery filters do not establish local growing or bloom timing.","source":"wildflower","source_name":"Liatris helleri","source_sha256":"4f55ea7217d67d917f9a48ba78703a6e8a9e63944d2fb9347949c23152b0f12f","source_url":"https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=LIHE2","status":"eligible_fact","taxon_id":"taxon:38ec2108-cce9-5aa7-a54b-320481bc62fd","value":["White","Pink","Purple"]},{"expected_source_name":"Liatris helleri","field":"life_cycle","original_field":"life_cycle","record_id":"trait:f5514b16aca6dcb627631fb5a60f3b8c4b04a09a2d121db9044ba70b3df6f09b","retrieved_at":"2026-10-05T19:52:16.087347+00:00","scope":{"kind":"unspecified"},"scope_note":"Species profile; distribution and native-status discovery filters do not establish local growing or bloom timing.","source":"wildflower","source_name":"Liatris helleri","source_sha256":"4f55ea7217d67d917f9a48ba78703a6e8a9e63944d2fb9347949c23152b0f12f","source_url":"https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=LIHE2","status":"eligible_fact","taxon_id":"taxon:38ec2108-cce9-5aa7-a54b-320481bc62fd","value":["Perennial"]}],"values":{"flower_color":["White","Pink","Purple"],"height_description":"Up to about 2 feet","life_cycle":["Perennial"]}}},"light_range":["full sun","full sun"],"light_source":"Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition","native_synthesis":{"claims":[{"claim":"native","matched_name":"Liatris helleri","scope":"L48","source":"usda","text":"L48:N","url":"https://plants.usda.gov/"},{"claim":"native","matched_name":"Liatris helleri","scope":"NC","source":"nc_flora","url":"https://auth1.dpr.ncparks.gov/flora/"},{"basis":"native range text in the regional flora","claim":"native","scope":"NC-SC-GA","source":"floraquest_carolinas_georgia","text":"Nw. North Carolina, especially Grandfather Mountain and its southeastern slopes.","url":"https://fsus.ncbg.unc.edu/"},{"basis":"species account without the alien asterisk","claim":"native_distribution","matched_name":"Liatris helleri","scope":"AL-AR-DC-DE-FL-GA-KY-LA-MD-MS-NC-NJ-PA-SC-TN-VA-WV","source":"weakley_fsus","url":"https://fsus.ncbg.unc.edu/"}],"county_native_range":"unresolved","decided_by":"usda","explanation":"USDA PLANTS (government agency, national claim) gives the value. Speaks for its own area (GA-NC-SC, NC), not this state: Vascular Plants of North Carolina (NC Natural Heritage Program), Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition.","label":"Native to West Virginia (estimated from a national checklist)","provenance":{"flags":["broader_scope"],"source":"usda","specificity":"national","tier":"government"},"rule":"fact-hierarchy-2","status":"native_inferred"},"source_name":"Liatris helleri","taxon_id":"taxon:38ec2108-cce9-5aa7-a54b-320481bc62fd","revision":"publish:d412fcf4-883a-4c06-b542-542693807821","photos":[]}