Helenium autumnale
Sp. Pl. 2: 886. 1753.
Perennials, 50–130 cm. Stems 1(–7), branched distally, strongly winged, sparsely to densely hairy proximally, moderately to densely hairy distally. Leaves usually moderately to densely hairy, sometimes glabrous; basal blades (withered by flowering) lanceolate, oblanceolate, or obovate, entire or weakly lobed; proximal and mid blades obovate to oblanceolate, usually dentate or entire; distal blades oblanceolate to lanceolate, entire or dentate. Heads 5–70(–100+) per plant, in paniculiform arrays. Peduncles 3–10 cm, moderately to densely hairy. Involucres globoid, 8–20 × 8–23 mm. Phyllaries (connate proximally) moderately to densely hairy. Ray florets 8–21, pistillate, fertile; corollas yellow, 10–23 × 4–10 mm. Disc florets 200–400(–800+); corollas yellow proximally, yellow to yellow-brown distally, 2.4–4 mm, lobes 5. Cypselae 1–2 mm, sparsely to moderately hairy; pappi of 5–7 entire, aristate scales (0.5–)0.9–1.5(–1.8) mm. 2n = 32, 34, 36.
Phenology: Flowering (Jul–)Aug–Oct(–Nov).
Habitat: Roadsides, fields, along streams, ditches, seepage areas, around ponds and lakes
Elevation: 20–2600 m
Distribution
Alta., B.C., Man., N.W.T., Ont., Que., Sask., Ala., Ariz., Ark., Calif., Colo., Del., D.C., Fla., Ga., Idaho, Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kans., Ky., La., Md., Mass., Mich., Miss., Mo., Mont., Nebr., Nev., N.J., N.Mex., N.Y., N.C., N.Dak., Ohio, Okla., Oreg., Pa., S.C., Tenn., Tex., Utah, Va., Wash., W.Va., Wyo.
Discussion
Selected References
None.