Flower ID: IMG_2436.JPG-07-27-2019 Flower name (scientific): Helianthus strumosus Linnaeus PY: 1753. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) hee-lee-AN-thus stroo-MOH-sus (or stru-MO-sus) Flower name (common): Woodland Sunflower Family name (common): Aster Family name (scientific): Asteraceae Scientific name origin: Genus: From the Greek helios for sun, and the Greek anthos for flower. References the presummed inclination of the sunflower to face in the direction of the sun. Specific epithet: From the Latin struma which means a swelling or tumor. Common name origin: Woodland comes from the common habitat of the plant. Sunflower is compounded from sun + flower, and based on the heliotropism exhibited – the ability of the immature sunflower buds to turn in the direction of the sun. Mature flowers lose their movement ability. Flower description: Size: 1.5 to 4.0 inches (3.8 to 10.2 cm) Petal count: ray florets 10 to 20, disk florets 35+. Color: yellow Other: flower arrangement, Solitary Plant description: Size: 24 to 72 inches (61 to 183 cm) Stem hairy: glabrous or glabrate Other: Leaf description: attachment is alternate and/or opposite, type is simple Size: Leaves up to about 18 to 20 cm long and up to 10 cm wide. Color: lighter green on the undersurface Hairy: Abaxial surface typically pubescent, principally along major veins. Adaxial surface rough to touch, moderate to dense covering of tiny stout hairs present. Other: Shape: leaf, lanceolate to lance-ovate or ovate (FNA) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common Bloom time (typical): July to September Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial Habitat: Woods, prairies, thickets, meadows, roadsides, sun or semi-shade, dry to moist. Fruit: Cypselae glabrate, with a pair of aristate (stiff bristle) scales. Seed: Brown to darker brown with lighter brown mottling, about 4 to 5 mm in length. Importance to wildlife: Click for pollinator information on this flower. Similar species (if any): A key feature to look for to help distinguish Helianthus strumosus from other sunflowers are stems that are glabrous or glabrate. Helianthus hirsutus (Hairy Sunflower) has a close resemblance to Helianthus strumosus and it is rather difficult to differentiate the two species. H. hirsutus has mostly opposite leaves with petioles 0.4 to 2 cm, and stems with spreading hairs, whereas Helianthus strumosus has cauline leaves mostly opposite with the distal leaves sometimes alternate with petioles 1 to 3 cm, and stems smooth below the flower cluster. For H. strumosus the abaxial leaf faces are glabrous or tomentulose, while for H. hirsutus the abaxial leaf faces are usually hirsute, and for both species the abaxial leaf faces are commonly covered with gland dots. Ethnobotany: The Meskwaki employed the roots of this plant to prepare a tea that was used for lung problems (Smith, p. 215, 1928). Latitude: 44.798462 Longitude: -91.481718 Altitude: 230.40 Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV) Click here for distribution map In Canada: (NB, ON, QC) Click here for distribution map References: Synonym(s): Basionym: na Homotypic Synonym(s): na Heterotypic Synonym(s): POWO lists 14 heterotypic synonyms for this species. Autonym: na Wetland Status (NC): FACU Wetland Status (MW): FACU