or button snakeroot, any plant of the genus Liatris, showy North American perennials of the family Asteraceae ( aster family). The blossoms, rosy purple or white, are in somewhat feathery heads along a usually wandlike stalk. Medicinal use has been made of a few species by both Native Americans and settlers. Some are called gayfeather. Blazing star is classified in the division Magnoliophyta , class Magnoliopsida, order Asterales, family Asteraceae.
