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Photographer: Kenneth J. Sytsma
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Family Asteraceae
Helianthus giganteus L.
giant sunflower, swamp sunflower, tall 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
giganteus: very large, from Giganteus "of or belonging to the giants"
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| Status: | Native |
| Plant: | erect, perennial, 3'-10' tall forb; stems usually with spreading hairs but sometimes hairless, often purplish |
| Flower: | head 1 3/4"- 3 1/4" wide with 10-20 yellow rays, yellow disks, hairy bracts (phyllaries) long and loose; inflorescence in loose clusters of several to many heads on stalks less than 4" long; blooms July-Oct. |
| Leaf: | opposite on the lower stem, upper alternate, flat, narrow, at least 3 times as long as wide, upper surface rough, lower with long hairs |
| Habitat: | moist; forests, swamps |
| Notes: | very similar to H. grosseserratus except for longer hairs on underside of leaf, and rougher upper side. |
| (Glossary) |
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