Putnam Park Wildflowers


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