Willow-leaf sunflower
Helianthus salicifolius A. Dietr.
Images
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Morphology
- Stem
- Erect, simple below, branching in inflorescence, pale greenish white to reddish purple, glabrous, sometimes waxy.
- Leaves
- Numerous, mostly alternate, simple, sessile, narrowly linear-lanceolate to linear, 3 to 8 inches long, less than 2/5 inch wide, thin, flat, pale green, drooping; margins entire or shallow-toothed; tips tapered to slender points; lower leaves usually dropping early.
- Inflorescence
- Heads, numerous, in open, panicle-like clusters, slender-stalked, 2 to 3 inches wide; bracts linear-lanceolate, loose spreading, some exceeding disk.
- Flower
- Ray florets 10-20, to 1.25 inch long, pale yellow; disk florets reddish purple.
- Fruit
- Achenes, slender, less than 1/4 inch long, glabrous, tipped with 2-4 awns, enclosing small seed.
Ecology
- Habitat
- Rocky hills and slopes, roadsides, and waste areas, usually associated with limestone soils.
- Distribution
- Principally east 1/3 of Kansas.
Practical Information
- Forage Value
- Willow-leaf sunflower is palatable and nutritious for livestock; it will decrease in overgrazed pastures.
- Uses
- Quail and prairie chickens consume the seeds.
Quick Facts
- Plant Type
- Wildflower
- Family
- Asteraceae - Sunflower Family
- Life Span
- Perennial
- Height
- 5-10 feet
- Last Updated
- 2021-02-14
Color Groups
Yellow Wildflowers
Flowering Period
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Blooms: September, October