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Photographer: from USDA Plants website
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Family Asteraceae
Helianthus decapetalus L.
forest sunflower, pale sunflower, thin-leaved sunflower
Helianthus: derived from two Greek words helios, "sun," and anthos, "flower," in reference to the sunflower's supposed tendency to always turn toward the sun
decapetalus: Latin for "ten petals"
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| Status: | Native |
| Plant: | erect, perennial, 2'-5' tall forb; stems smooth below the hairy inflorescence |
| Flower: | head 1 1/2"-4" wide with 8-15 yellow rays and a yellow, 3/4" wide disk; inflorescence one to a few heads on long stalks, bracts (phyllaries) usually longer than the disk, pointed, leaf-like, slightly spreading; blooms Aug.-Oct. |
| Leaf: | opposite along lower stem, upper becoming alternate, widely oval to lance-like, often 1 1/2" wide, quickly tapering to the stalk, thin, pale below, sharply toothed |
| Habitat: | woods, streambanks |
| (Glossary) |
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