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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.

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. autumnale L.

Perennial
Stem 2–10 dm; branches few–many
Leaves mostly cauline; lower often with short, winged petioles; upper sessile, decurrent; blades oblanceolate to elliptic, obtuse to acute, generally ± toothed, glabrous or sparsely hairy
Inflorescence: heads several–many in a ± flat-topped cyme; peduncles 3–10 cm, short-hairy; receptacle 3–5 mm diam
Ray flowers 10–20; ligules 10–25 mm
Disk flowers: corollas 5-lobed, 3–3.5 mm, yellow throughout
Fruit 1.5–2 mm, sparsely hairy; pappus scales awn-tipped, 1–1.5 mm
Chromosomes: 2n=32,34,36
Ecology: Wet places
Elevation: < 2000 m.
Bioregional distribution: North Coast, Klamath Ranges, Modoc Plateau
Distribution outside California: to British Columbia, e N.America
Highly variable.

Native

var. grandiflorum (Nutt.) Torr. & A. Gray

Plant generally 4–12 dm, sparsely puberulent or becoming glabrous
Ray flowers: ligules 15–25 mm
Ecology: Wet places
Elevation: < 500 m.
Bioregional distribution: n North Coast, w Klamath Ranges
Distribution outside California: to British Columbia
Horticultural information: IRR or WET, SUN: 4, 5, 15, 16, 17.

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