|
Photographer: Merel R. Black
|
Family Asteraceae
Helianthus pauciflorus Nutt.
few-leaved sunflower, stiff 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
pauciflorus: few-flowered
|
|
| Status: | Native |
| Plant: | erect, perennial, 1' - 6 1/2' tall forb; stems usually leafless near the top |
| Flower: | head 2" - 3 1/2" wide, 10-21 yellow rays; 1/2"-1" wide, reddish-purple disk; bracts (phyllaries) short, compact; inflorescence of one to a few, long-stalked heads; blooms Aug.-Sept. |
| Leaf: | 2 1/2 to 8 times as long as wide, mostly all opposite, tapering to a short stalk, very rough, often folded upward along the midrib, up to 15 pairs below the inflorescence  |
| Habitat: | prairies, roadsides |
| Notes: | very similar to H. X laetiflorus but with shorter leaf stalks and reddish-purple disks |
| (Glossary) |
|
