Putnam Park Wildflowers


Flower ID: IMG_0828.JPG-08-20-2018
Flower name (scientific): Heliopsis helianthoides (Linnaeus) Sweet PY: 1826. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) hee-lee-OP-sis hee-lee-an-THOY-dees
Flower name (common): Smooth Oxeye
Family name (common): Aster
Family name (scientific): Asteraceae
Scientific name origin:
     Genus: From the Greek words helios for sun and opsis for like, hence sun-like, referring to the yellow flower heads.
    Specific epithet: Resembling Helianthus, referring to the resemblance with the flowers of the genus Helianthus.
Common name origin: Oxeye was a name applied to various European plants with yellow-rayed flowers of the family Asteraceae (Aster family).
Flower description:
     Size: 1.5 to 3.5 inches (3.8 to 8.9 cm)
     Petal count: ray florets 8 to 20, disk florets 10 to 75+.
     Color: yellow
     Other: flower arrangement, Solitary
Plant description:
     Size: 24 to 60 inches (61 to 152 cm)
     Stem hairy: glabrous to moderately pubescent.
     Other:
Leaf description: attachment is opposite, type is simple
     Size: Leaves up to 15 cm long and 10 cm wide.
     Color: medium to darker green
     Hairy: glabrous to pubescent with short stiff hairs, giving a rough feel to the surfaces.
     Other: Shape: leaf, ovate to deltate-lanceolate (FNA)
Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native
Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common
Bloom time (typical): July to September
Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial
Habitat: Thickets, woodland edges, prairies, savannas, meadows, disturbed areas, roadsides, sun or semi-shade, dry to moist.
Fruit: Cypselae about 4 to 5 mm in length, mostly darker brown colored.
Seed:
Importance to wildlife: Click for pollinator information on this flower.
Similar species (if any): Heliopsis helianthoides has a resemblance to many sunflower (genus Helianthus) species. The appearance of the bracts, alternating short and long, can aid in the identification of this species. The flowerheads are usually erect rather than nodding sideways as they do for many sunflowers. The ray flowers are typically fertile, whereas for the sunflowers they are sterile.
Ethnobotany: The Chippewa used this plant as a stimulant (Densmore, p. 364, 1928). The Meskwaki used the plant to treat lung issues (Smith, p. 215, 1928). Densmore and Smith use the old synonym name Heliopsis scabra for a variety of this species.
Latitude: 44.795795
Longitude: -91.512985
Altitude: 311.10
Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map
In US: (AL, AR, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV) Click here for distribution map
In Canada: (MB, NB, NF, ON, QC, SK) Click here for distribution map
References:
Synonym(s):
Basionym: Buphthalmum helianthoides Linnaeus Sp. Pl. 2: 904. 1753.
Homotypic Synonym(s): POWO lists 1 homotypic synonym for this species.
Heterotypic Synonym(s):
Autonym: Heliopsis helianthoides var. helianthoides (The other infraspecific is Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra (Dunal) Fernald. This variety is widely distributed in North America.)
Wetland Status (NC): FACU
Wetland Status (MW): FACU