Key to Helenium

View taxon page for Helenium

(For a list of species in Helenium, use the above link.)

Jepson Manual glossary definitions can be seen by moving your cursor over words underlined with dots.

1. Stem not winged; cauline leaves generally narrowly 

linear 

Elongate, with nearly parallel sides; narrower than elliptic or oblong.

; annual ..... H. amarum var. amarum

1' Stem winged by 

decurrent 

Pertaining to a wing-like or ridge-like extension basal to the apparent or actual point of attachment, particularly a leaf base that appears to continue onto the stem.

 

leaf 

Organ arising from a stem, generally composed of a stalk (petiole) and a flat, expanded, green, photosynthetic area (blade); distinguished from a leaflet by the presence in its axil of a bud, branch, thorn, or flower; sometimes with lateral, basal appendages (stipules); either simple (toothed, lobed, or dissected but not divided into leaflets) or compound (divided into leaflets).

bases; cauline leaves generally wider; annual or 

perennial 

Completing life cycle (germination through death) in more than two years or growing seasons, generally non-woody (at least above ground) to woody; includes perennial herbs as well as subshrubs to trees; the abbreviation 'per' only refers to perennial herb, not to the word 'perennial' alone.

 herb

2. Cauline leaf margin ± toothed ..... H. autumnale

2' Cauline leaf margin 

entire 

Having margins that are continuous and smooth (i.e., without teeth, lobes, etc.).

3. Heads (1)4–20(30); ray corolla 3.8–10 mm (occasionally ray flowers 0); disk corolla generally 4-lobed, 1.6–2.7 mm; pappus scales 0.4–1 mm ..... H. puberulum

3' Heads 1–20; ray corolla 12–37 mm; disk corolla 5-lobed, 3–5.2 mm; pappus scales 1.3–4.5 mm

4. Peduncle sparsely to moderately hairy; pappus scales 1.3–2.2(2.7) mm; widespread but not NCo ..... H. bigelovii

4' Peduncle generally densely hairy; pappus (2.5)3–4.5 mm; NCo ..... H. bolanderi

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Citation for the whole project: Jepson Flora Project (eds.) . Jepson eFlora, https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/ [accessed on ]

Citation for an individual treatment: [Author of taxon treatment] [year]. [Taxon name] in Jepson Flora Project (eds.) Jepson eFlora, [URL for treatment]. Accessed on .

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