Flower ID: IMG_1243.JPG-09-23-2018 Flower name (scientific): Helianthus tuberosus Linnaeus PY: 1753. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) heel-ee-AN-thus too-ber-OH-sus Flower name (common): Jerusalem Artichoke 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 for swollen or tuberous, referring to the roots. Common name origin: The name artichoke is from the presumed similarity of the taste of the edible tubers with the artichoke (Cynara scolymus). Jerusalem Artichoke is not an artichoke, and is also not from Jerusalem. The latter name is possibly a corruption of the Italian word girasole. The origin of Jerusalem in this name is uncertain. Flower description: Size: 2.0 to 4.0 inches (5.1 to 10.2 cm) Petal count: ray florets 10 to 20, disk floerets 60+. Color: yellow Other: flower arrangement, Solitary Plant description: Size: 48 to 120 inches (1.2 to 3.0 m) Stem hairy: rough to the touch, sparsely to densely pubescent with stiff hairs. Other: Leaf description: attachment is alternate and/or opposite, type is simple Size: Leaves are up to 25 cm long and up to 12 to 15 cm wide. Color: medium green Hairy: Abaxial surface pubescent adaxial surface rough to the touch. Other: Shape: leaf, lanceolate to ovate (FNA) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common Bloom time (typical): August to October Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial Habitat: Woodland edges, thickets, meadows, streambanks, disturbed areas, roadsides, sun or semi-shade, moist. Fruit: Cypselae about 5 to 7 mm in length, surface mostly glabrous. Seed: Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): The features to look for to distinguish Helianthus tuberosus from other sunflowers are: bracts dark green to black in color, lower leaves usually opposite and upper about two-thirds usually alternate, broad leaves typically 7 to 15 cm wide, petioles 2 to 8 cm and commonly winged. The sunflowers in our region that hit the same maximum height of H. tuberosus, or exceed it, are H. giganteus (Giant Sunflower), H. grosseserratus (Sawtooth Sunflower), and H. maximiliani (Maximilian Sunflower). Ethnobotany: The Meskwaki used the small tubers as a food source (Smith, pp. 256-257, 1928). The Potawatomi also utilized the roots as a food source (Smith, pp. 98-99, 1933). Latitude: 44.796337 Longitude: -91.512757 Altitude: 278.90 Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Brown, Buffalo, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Grant, Green, Iowa, Jackson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Outagamie, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Racine, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (AL, AR, 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, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY) Click here for distribution map In Canada: (MB, NB, NS, ON, PE, QC, SK) Click here for distribution map References: Synonym(s): Basionym: na Homotypic Synonym(s): POWO lists 1 homotypic synonym for this species. Heterotypic Synonym(s): POWO lists 20 heterotypic synonyms for this species. Autonym: na Wetland Status (NC): FACU Wetland Status (MW): FACU