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ASTERACEAE

SUNFLOWER FAMILY

David J. Keil, Family Editor and author, except as specified

Annual to tree
Leaves basal or cauline, alternate to whorled, simple to compound
Inflorescence: 1° inflorescence a head, each resembling a flower, 1–many, generally arrayed in cymes, generally subtended by ± calyx-like involucre; flowers 1–many per head
Flowers bisexual, unisexual, or sterile, ± small, of several types; calyx 0 or modified into pappus of bristles, scales, or awns, which is generally persistent in fruit; corolla radial or bilateral (rarely 0), lobes generally (0)4–5; stamens 4–5, anthers generally fused into cylinder around style, often appendaged at tips, bases, or both, filaments generally free, generally attached to corolla near throat; pistil 1, ovary inferior, 1-chambered, 1-seeded, style 1, branches 2, generally hair-tufted at tip, stigmas 2, generally on inside of style branches
Fruit: achene, cylindric to ovoid, generally deciduous with pappus attached
Genera in family: ± 1300 genera, 21,000 species (largest family of dicots): worldwide. Largest family in CA. Also see tribal key to CA genera: Strother 1997 Madroño 44(1):1–28. See glossary p. 25 for illustrations of general family characteristics.

HELIANTHUS

SUNFLOWER

Annual or perennial herb
Stems generally erect
Leaves opposite or alternate, generally reduced upward, often 3-veined from near base, generally rough-hairy
Inflorescence: heads radiate, solitary or in cymes; involucre bell-shaped to hemispheric; phyllaries in 1–3 generally ± equal series, free; receptacle flat to rounded; chaff scales 0–3-lobed
Ray flowers 10–many, sterile; ligules yellow
Disk flowers many; corollas yellow to red or purple, tube short, throat base often swollen, lobes triangular; style appendages triangular
Fruit oblanceolate to obovate, ± compressed; sides rounded; pappus generally of 2 deciduous, lanceolate to ovate scales (sometimes also 1–several shorter scales)
Species in genus: 67 species: Am
Etymology: (Greek: sun flower)
Reference: [Heiser 1969 Mem Torrey Bot Club 22(3):1–218]

Native

H. gracilentus A. Gray

Perennial 6–20 dm, from stout taproot
Stems rough-hairy
Leaves opposite (or upper alternate); petioles 0–3 cm; blade 5–11 cm, ± lanceolate, acute, entire or few-toothed
Inflorescence: heads few; peduncles 4–30 cm; involucre 1.3–2 cm diam; phyllaries generally unequal, 5–8 mm, ± lanceolate, < or = disk, glabrous to short-rough-hairy, ciliate; chaff scales 8–9 mm, entire or 3-toothed, tip short-ciliate
Ray flowers 13–21; ligules 15–25 mm
Disk flowers: corollas 4–5 mm, lobes yellow or red
Fruit 3–4 mm; pappus scales ± 3 mm
Chromosomes: 2n=34
Ecology: Dry slopes, especially after fires
Elevation: < 1800 m.
Bioregional distribution: s Central Western California, Southwestern California
Distribution outside California: n Baja California
Horticultural information: SUN, DRN: 3, 7, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24.

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