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Photographer: Gary Fewless
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Family Asteraceae
Helianthus X laetiflorus Pers. (pro sp.)
cheerful sunflower, hybrid prairie sunflower, mountain 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
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| Status: | Native |
| Plant: | erect, perennial, 1 1/2'-8' tall forb; rough stems usually leafless near the top |
| Flower: | head 2" - 3 1/2" wide, 10-21 yellow rays, disk often yellow; inflorescence of one to a few heads on long stalks; blooms Aug.-Sept. |
| Leaf: | 2 1/2 to 8 times as long as wide, mostly all opposite, up to 9-15 pairs below the inflorescence, tapering to a long stalk |
| Habitat: | full sun; dry; roadsides, disturbed areas |
| Notes: | very similar to H. pauciflorus but with longer leaf stalks and often yellow disks |
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