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hélénie nudiflore, purple sneezeweed, purple-head sneezeweed

rosilla, sneezeweed

Habit Perennials, 30–100 cm. Annuals or perennials, 50–160 cm.
Stems

usually 1, usually branched distally, strongly winged, glabrous or sparsely hairy proximally, sparsely to moderately hairy distally.

usually 1, branched distally, strongly winged, glabrous proximally, sparsely hairy distally.

Leaves

glabrous or sparsely to moderately hairy;

basal blades oblanceolate to obovate or spatulate, entire or serrate;

proximal and mid blades oblanceolate to lanceolate, entire or toothed;

distal blades lanceolate to lance-linear, entire.

glabrous or sparsely hairy;

basal blades oblanceolate to oblong-elliptic, entire;

proximal and mid blades lanceolate to oblong-elliptic, entire;

distal blades lance-linear, entire.

Peduncles

3–10 cm, sparsely to moderately hairy.

(6–)9–17(–23) cm, sparsely to moderately hairy.

Involucres

globoid to usually ovoid, 8–17 × 9–17 mm.

globose to depressed globose, 9–15 × 9–17(–19) mm.

Ray florets

usually 8–13, neuter, sometimes 0;

corollas yellow to reddish brown to red to purple, 10–20 × 5–10 mm.

0, or 13–15, pistillate, fertile;

corollas yellow, 3.8–10 × 2–4 mm.

Disc florets

250–500(–700+);

corollas yellow proximally and purple distally or purple throughout, 2.3–3.7 mm, lobes 4(–5).

300–500(–1000+);

corollas yellow proximally, yellow to reddish brown to purple distally, (1.6–)1.9–2.7 mm, lobes 4(–5).

Phyllaries

(connate proximally) moderately to densely hairy.

(distinct or connate proximally) moderately hairy.

Heads

(1–)5–50(–80+) per plant, in paniculiform arrays.

4–20(–30) per plant, in paniculiform arrays.

Cypselae

1–1.2 mm, moderately hairy;

pappi of 5–6 entire, aristate scales 0.6–1(–1.7) mm.

1.2–1.9 mm, moderately hairy;

pappi of 5–6 entire, aristate scales 0.4–1 mm.

2n

= 28.

= 58.

Helenium flexuosum

Helenium puberulum

Phenology Flowering (Apr–)May–Jul(–Oct). Flowering (Mar–)Jun–Aug(–Nov).
Habitat Ditches, fields, washes, along streams Along streams, ditches, seepage areas, around ponds and lakes, forests, woodlands
Elevation 10–900 m (0–3000 ft) 0–1200 m (0–3900 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AL; AR; FL; GA; IL; IN; KY; LA; MA; MD; MI; MO; MS; NC; NJ; OH; OK; PA; SC; TN; TX; VA; WI; WV; NS; ON; QC
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from FNA
CA; Mexico (Baja California)
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[BONAP county map]
Discussion

It has been suggested that Helenium flexuosum may be of hybrid origin from H. campestre (perennial, 2n = 28) and some member of Helenium sect. Tetrodus (H. F. L. Rock 1957). The only member of sect. Tetrodus that has a chromosome number of 2n = 28 is H. linifolium, an annual from southern Texas.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Helenium puberulum may be of amphidiploid origin from hybridization between H. bigelovii (perennial, radiate, 2n = 32) and H. thurberi (annual, rayless, 2n = 26) (M. W. Bierner 1972).

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 21, p. 429. FNA vol. 21, p. 432.
Parent taxa Asteraceae > tribe Heliantheae > subtribe Gaillardiinae > Helenium Asteraceae > tribe Heliantheae > subtribe Gaillardiinae > Helenium
Sibling taxa
H. amarum, H. arizonicum, H. autumnale, H. bigelovii, H. bolanderi, H. brevifolium, H. campestre, H. drummondii, H. elegans, H. linifolium, H. microcephalum, H. pinnatifidum, H. puberulum, H. quadridentatum, H. thurberi, H. vernale, H. virginicum
H. amarum, H. arizonicum, H. autumnale, H. bigelovii, H. bolanderi, H. brevifolium, H. campestre, H. drummondii, H. elegans, H. flexuosum, H. linifolium, H. microcephalum, H. pinnatifidum, H. quadridentatum, H. thurberi, H. vernale, H. virginicum
Synonyms H. nudiflorum
Name authority Rafinesque: New Fl. 4: 81. (1838) de Candolle: in A. P. de Candolle and A. L. P. P. de Candolle, Prodr. 5: 667. (1836)
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