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.

HELENIUM

SNEEZEWEED

Annual, perennial herb, glabrous to ± hairy
Stems generally erect, often winged, generally glabrous below, ± short-hairy above
Leaves simple, alternate, gland-dotted
Inflorescence: heads radiate or discoid; involucre disk-shaped; phyllaries in 1–3 series, free or ± fused, subequal or outer longer; receptacle strongly convex to spheric or conic, naked
Ray flowers fertile or sterile; corollas yellow; ligule fan-shaped, generally strongly 3-lobed
Disk flowers many; corollas 4–5-lobed, yellow to red or purplish brown; anther appendages short-triangular; style branches ± truncate
Fruit obconic, ribbed, ± hairy; pappus of 5–10 scales or 0
Species in genus: ± 35 species: North America, South America
Etymology: (Helen of Troy)
Reference: [Bierner 1972 Brittonia 24:331–355]

Native

H. bigelovii A. Gray

Perennial
Stems 3–13 dm; branches 0–few
Leaves basal and cauline, entire, glabrous or ± short-hairy; basal with short, winged petioles; cauline sessile, clasping, decurrent, lower and middle lanceolate to oblong-elliptic, upper linear
Inflorescence: heads 1–few; peduncles 10–30 cm; receptacle 4–8 mm diam
Ray flowers 14–20; ligules 13–25 mm
Disk flowers: corollas 3–5 mm, 5-lobed, tube and throat yellow, lobes yellow to red, brown, or purple
Fruit 1.8–2.4 mm, ± long-hairy; pappus scales 1.3–2.7 mm, awn-tipped
Chromosomes: 2n=32
Ecology: Wet meadows, marshes, bogs
Elevation: ± 0–3000+ m.
Bioregional distribution: Klamath Ranges, North Coast Ranges, Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, South Coast Ranges, Transverse Ranges, Peninsular Ranges
Horticultural information: IRR or WET, SUN: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24.