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common sunflower

Habit Coarse annual, 4-20 dm. tall, the herbage rough-hairy.
Leaves

Leaves chiefly alternate, long-petiolate, mostly toothed, ovate or broader, the lower often cordate.

Flowers

Heads large, reddish-brown disk over 2 cm. wide;

involucral bracts ovate, sub-equal, green, tapered to a point, covered with short, stiff hairs, with longer hairs on the margins;

ray flowers large, yellow and neutral;

receptacle chaffy throughout;

pappus of 2 readily deciduous awns.

Fruits

Achenes clasped by the inner involucral bracts.

Helianthus annuus

Helianthus floridanus

Flowering time June-September
Habitat Fields, roadsides, wastelots, and other open areas, often where disturbed, at low to middle elevations.
Distribution
Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades in Washington; British Columbia to California, east across North America to the Atlantic Coast.
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
[BONAP county map]
Origin Native and introduced populations in Washington
Conservation status Not of concern
Sibling taxa
H. ciliaris, H. cusickii, H. nuttallii, H. petiolaris, H. tuberosus
H. annuus, H. ciliaris, H. cusickii, H. nuttallii, H. petiolaris, H. tuberosus
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