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elecampane, elecampane inula, horse yellowhead, inula

Habit Plants 50–100(–200) cm.
Leaves

basal blades ± elliptic, mostly 15–40 cm × 100–200+ mm (bases decurrent onto strongly ribbed petioles, margins callose-denticulate, otherwise entire, abaxial faces velvety-woolly, adaxial thinly hairy);

cauline blades ovate or elliptic to lanceolate, 10–30 cm × 45–120 mm, bases cordate, clasping, margins serrate.

Involucres

(20–)30–40 mm diam.

Ray florets

(15–)50–100+;

corolla laminae (10–)20–30+ mm.

Disc corollas

9–11 mm.

Outer phyllaries

ovate, oblong, or ± deltate to lanceolate, 12–20(–25+) × 6–8(–20+) mm (abaxially velvety-hairy);

inner phyllaries progressively narrower, less hairy, more scarious.

Cypselae

3–4 mm, glabrous;

pappi of (40–)50–60 basally connate, barbellate bristles or setiform scales 6–10 mm.

2n

= 20.

Inula helenium

Phenology Flowering mid–late summer.
Habitat Roadsides, waste places, streamsides
Elevation 0–300(–600+) m (0–1000(–2000+) ft)
Distribution
from FNA
CA; CT; DE; IA; IL; IN; KY; MA; MD; ME; MI; MN; MO; NC; NH; NJ; NY; OH; OR; PA; RI; TN; UT; VA; VT; WA; WI; BC; MB; NB; NS; ON; PE; QC; Europe [Introduced in North America; introduced, Asia and beyond]
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Inula helenium is widespread in the Old World.

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

Source FNA vol. 19, p. 474.
Parent taxa Asteraceae > tribe Inuleae > Inula
Sibling taxa
I. britannica, I. salicina
Name authority Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 2: 881. (1753)
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