Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - blazing star

 noun  Date: 15th century  1. archaic comet  2. any of various plants having conspicuous flower clusters or star-shaped flowers: as  a. any of a genus (Liatris) of North American composite herbs with spikes of rosy-purple rayless flowers — called also button snakeroot  b. any of several North American rough-leaved herbs (genus Mentzelia of the family Losaceae)