User:Shireenzameen/sandbox

Additions I'd like to make to Liatris spicata: Possible resources:
 * add more photos. It's a beautiful flower, but it's hard to tell from the current photos. maybe from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=LISP
 * describe more about cultivation
 * add a little about where and how it grows, natively and in cultivation. Is it affected by invasive species at all? Are there other benefits of the plant?
 * I already added a section about its medicinal uses, but this could be expanded on
 * WikiCommons for photos
 * for medicinal uses:
 * USDA Medicinal Plant Database - USDA ARS https://www.ars.usda.gov/.../McCoy_Medicinal_Plants_Database_PROTECTED.xls
 * Not found in: USDA National Agricultural Library - Medicinal and Culinary Herbs | Alternative Farming Systems https://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/medicinal-and-culinary-herbs
 * Dr. James Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases for USDA https://phytochem.nal.usda.gov/phytochem/search


 * Not found in: Library of Congress - Selected Internet Resources on Medicinal Plants: A Science Reference Section Webliography

Revised Draft
I think some of the sentences in the existing article should move up from the cultivation section to the beginning section.

Add to first paragraph (change/pull from current second section):

The plants have tall spikes of purple flowers resembling bottle brushes or feathers that grow one to five feet tall. They bloom in July through August or September, depending on where in their range they are located. The species grows in hardiness zones 3 - 8, stretching from the Midwest to the East Coast and eastern Canada. [existing 1 on real page, on here

Common varieties include ‘Alba’ with white flowers on 1½ feet tall spikes, ‘Callilepsis’ with long stems good for cut flowers, ‘Floristan Violett’ with a strong stem and thick, violet flower spikes preferred by florists, and ‘Kobold’ which stays small in size with deep purple flowers.

Cultivation and Propagation:

Full sun is best and well-drained soil is preferred to prevent rot, though the plants do prefer moist soil. However, the plants do not tolerate wet soil in winter. The plants can tolerant some shade as well as drought but need regular watering during the first growing season to build strong roots.

Plants can be grown from corms (similar to bulbs and tubers) or from seed, or the plants can be bought at garden centers or nurseries.

To grow from seed, start in early spring either indoors or outside. Germination takes 20-45 days. When leaves appear, divide in large clumps. Plants should be spaced 12-15 inches apart. Spacing allows sun and air to help with potential diseases such as stem rot (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum), leaf spots (Phyllosticta liatridis, Septoria liatridis), rusts (Coleosporium laciniariae, Puccinia liatridis), powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum), and wilt (Verticillium albo-atrum). When growing from seed, blooms do not usually appear until the second year.

If amending the soil, the plants prefer soil with high levels of calcium and magnesium and low levels of potassium and phosphorus.

In gardens, Liatris spicata works well planted individually, as a border, and because of its vertical form, it contrasts well with mounded and broad-leaf plants. In informal gardens, large sweeps of plantings work well.

The flowers either fresh or dried work well as cut flowers and have a vanilla scent when dried.

Role in Ecosystems

Liatris spicata is excellent for attracting pollinators and beneficial insects. These include butterflies such as the Monarch, Tiger Swallowtail, Clouded Sulphur, Orange Sulphur, Gray Hairstreak, Aphrodite Fritillary, Painted Lady, Red Admiral, and Wood Nymphs. The flowers attract bumblebees, digger bees (Anthophorini), long-horned bees (Melissodes spp.), leaf-cutting bees (Megachile spp.), skippers, and birds including hummingbirds. Caterpillars of the rare Glorious Flower Moth (Schinia gloriosa) and Liatris Flower Moth (Schinia sanguinea) feed on the flowers and seeds. Caterpillars of the Liatris Borer Moth (Carmenta anthracipennis) bore through the plant's stems. Groundhogs, rabbits, and voles also eat the plants.

Deer are less likely to eat Liatris spicata than other plants and therefore considered deer-resistant, although deer will eat almost anything when food is scarce.

Medicinal Uses:

Liatris spicata was historically used medicinally by Native Americans for its carminative, diuretic, stimulant, sudorific, and expectorant properties. In addition to these uses, the Cherokee used the plant as an analgesic for pain in the back and limbs and the Menominee used it for a "weak heart." The root of the plant is the part most often used. Native Americans also used the plant to treat swelling, abdominal pain and spasms/colic, and snake bites.[old 6]  Currently, the plant is used for a sore throat by gargling an infusion, as an herbal insect repellent, and in potpourri.[old 7]

Perhaps add to the scientific classification box on right already using in existing article as 1

Additional Feedback:

Good evening, Shireen. It is apparent that you have thoughtfully considered improvements which you can incorporate into the organization and presentation of your article. Your section concerning medicinal uses is particularly informative and interesting! In addition, it appears as if the majority of your content is widely backed by credible sources. Furthermore, your use of hyperlinks to other Wikipedia pages is excellent. I encourage you to continue research with the same vigor and standard of excellence and follow to through on making other needed edits which you have identified so that you may be able to contribute more valuable, insightful content to the rather short article in the future. Please see the few additional comments regarding potential grammatical or tonal issues in your draft.

Ryan Thron

References

Difference between corm, bulb, and tuber

If more is needed, add about mycorrhizal fungi http://www.jstor.org.montgomerycollege.idm.oclc.org/stable/pdf/2446284.pdf

Do you cite where you found one source that led to another source? I used USDA Medicinal Plant Database to find another resource: Native American Ethnobotany Database http://naeb.brit.org/uses/search/?string=liatris+spicata which then has data from:

- Hamel, Paul B. and Mary U. Chiltoskey, 1975, Cherokee Plants and Their Uses -- A 400 Year History, Sylva, N.C. Herald Publishing Co., page 27

- Densmore, Francis, 1932, Menominee Music, SI-BAE Bulletin #102, page 129