Flower ID: IMG_2942.JPG-08-23-2019 Flower name (scientific): Helenium autumnale Linnaeus PY: 1753. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) hel-EH-nee-um aw-tum-NAH-lay Flower name (common): Common Sneezeweed Family name (common): Aster Family name (scientific): Asteraceae Scientific name origin: Genus: Taken by Linneaus from a Greek name for another plant (Inula helenium), the later species named for Helen of Troy. Specific epithet: From the Latin for autumn, covering part of the period when the flower blooms. Common name origin: The plant was used to prepare a snuff to induce sneezing, for possible medicinal as well as other reasons. Flower description: Size: 0.7 to 1.0 inches (1.8 to 2.5 cm) Petal count: 14; ray florets 8 to 21, disk florets typically 200 to 400. Color: yellow (both ray and disc florets). Other: flower arrangement, Panicle Plant description: Size: 24 to 60 inches (61 to 152 cm) Stem hairy: Other: Leaf description: attachment is basal and alternate, type is simple Size: Cauline leaves up to 15 cm long and up to about 4 cm wide. Color: Hairy: Other: Shape: leaf, lanceolate, oblanceolate, or obovate (FNA) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common Bloom time (typical): August to October Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial Habitat: Streambanks, marshes, swamps, moist meadows, sun or part shade. Fruit: Seed: Importance to wildlife: Click for pollinator information on this flower. Similar species (if any): Helenium flexuosum (Southern Sneezeweed) has similar ray florets, but the disc flowers are brownish colored. Helenium amarum (Bitterweed) has a close resemblance, but can be distinguished by its rather narrow leaf segments. H. amarum is very uncommon in Wisconsin, with just three reports, though according to the FNA, this species is absent from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois, but present in Michigan. Ethnobotany: The Menominee employed the dried flower heads as a cold remedy (Smith, pp. 30-31, 1923). The Meskwaki also used the dried flower heads as a cold remedy and to treat catarrh, and they also use the roots of this plant for medicine (Smith, p. 215, 1928). Latitude: 44.799877 Longitude: -91.508327 Altitude: 251.40 Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Fond du Lac, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY) In Canada: (AB, BC, MB, NT, ON, QC, SK) References: Synonym(s): Basionym: na Homotypic Synonym(s): Heterotypic Synonym(s): Autonym: na