Annuals, 25–120 cm. Stems 1 (2–10), branched distally, moderately to strongly winged, glabrous or sparsely hairy. Leaves glabrous or sparsely to moderately hairy (basal withered by flowering); proximal and mid-blades narrowly elliptic to narrowly oblongelliptic, usually serrate to undulate-serrate, sometimes deeply toothed or laciniate; distal blades narrowly elliptic to narrowly oblongelliptic, serrate to undulate-serrate. Heads 20–300+ per plant, in paniculiform arrays. Peduncles 1.8–8 cm, moderately hairy. Involucres globoid to usually ovoid, 4–12 × 4–12 mm. Phyllaries (connate proximally) moderately hairy. Ray-florets 7–13, pistillate, fertile; corollas usually yellow throughout, sometimes reddish proximally and yellow distally, 2.6–9.1 × 1.5–6.7 mm. Disc-florets 120–400+; corollas yellow to yellow-green proximally, brown to reddish-brown distally, 1.2–2.4 mm, lobes (4–) 5. Cypselae 0.7–1.4 mm, moderately hairy; pappi of usually 6 entire, non-aristate scales (0.2–) 0.3–0.7 mm.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Ariz., N.Mex., Okla., Tex., n Mexico

Discussion

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Helenium microcephalum var. microcephalum, Helenium microcephalum var. oöclinium

Key

1	Peduncles 1–3.5 cm, projecting terminal heads barely beyond foliage; involucres 4–8 × 4–8 mm	Helenium microcephalum var. microcephalum
1	Peduncles 1.5–8 cm, usually projecting terminal heads well beyond foliage; involucres 8–12 × 8–12 mm	Helenium microcephalum var. oöclinium