Helianthus occidentalis

Helianthus occidentalis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Helianthus
Species: H. occidentalis
Binomial name
Helianthus occidentalis
Riddell
Synonyms[1]
  • Helianthus dowellianus M.A.Curtis
  • Helianthus illinoensis Gleason [2]

Helianthus occidentalis (fewleaf sunflower or western sunflower)[3] is a species of sunflower native to the eastern and central United States. It grows mostly in the Great Lakes Region and in the Ozarks, with additional populations scattered as far as Massachusetts, Texas, and the Florida Panhandle.[4]

Helianthus occidentalis differs from other, similar species by its sparse leaves, most of which are crowded around the lower part of the stem. This perennial plant reaches heights from two to five feet (60-150 cm). It produces one to several yellow flower heads, each with 8-14 ray florets surrounding more than 50 disc florets.[3]

The word occidentalis means "western" in Latin. The plant was first described in 1836, at which time the Great Lakes Region was considered the western part of the United States.[5][6]

Subspecies[1][3]

References

  1. 1 2 The Plant List, Helianthus occidentalis Riddell
  2. ↑ photo of herbarium specimen at Missouri Botanical Garden, collected in Illinois in 1904, type specimen of Helianthus illinoensis, syn of Helianthus occidentalis'
  3. 1 2 3 Flora of North America, Helianthus occidentalis Riddell, 1836. Western sunflower
  4. ↑ Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map
  5. ↑ Riddell, John Leonard 1836. Western Journal of the Medical and Physical Sciences 9(36): 577
  6. ↑ Tropicos, Helianthus occidentalis Riddell


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