Perennials, 100–400 (–500) cm (rhizomatous). Stems erect, glabrous proximally, distally glabrate, scabrellous, or strigillose (glaucous). Leaves cauline; opposite (proximal) or alternate; petioles (1–) 2–5 cm; blades (light to dark green, 3-nerved distal to bases) lanceolate to lanceovate, 10–32 × (1.2–) 4–9 cm, bases cuneate, margins usually coarsely to shallowly serrate, rarely subentire (flat), abaxial faces puberulent to tomentulose, glanddotted. Heads 3–15+. Peduncles 0.3–10 cm. Involucres broadly hemispheric, 15–25 mm diam. Phyllaries 25–30 (loose, spreading), lance-linear, 10–14 × 1.5–2.5 mm (subequal), (margins ± ciliate) apices attenuate, abaxial faces glabrous or puberulent, not glanddotted. Paleae 7–8 mm, entire or 3-toothed (apices acuminate, ± hairy). Ray-florets 14–20; laminae 23–40 mm. Disc-florets 100+; corollas 5–6 mm, lobes yellow; anthers dark-brown to black, appendages yellow. Cypselae 3–4 mm, glabrate; pappi of 2 aristate scales 1.9–2.5 mm. 2n = 34.

Phenology: Flowering late summer–fall.
Habitat: Dry to wet prairies, other open sites
Elevation: 10–300+ m

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Ont., Que., Ark., Conn., Del., D.C., Ga., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kans., Ky., La., Maine, Md., Mass., Mich., Minn., Miss., Mo., Nebr., N.H., N.J., N.Y., N.C., N.Dak., Ohio, Okla., Pa., S.Dak., Tenn., Tex., Va., Wash., W.Va., Wis.

Discussion

Helianthus grosseserratus is native to midwestern North America and has spread as a roadside weed into other areas, such as New England and the southeastern United States. It is introduced in Canada. Hybrids between H. maximiliani and H. grosseserratus are known as H. ×intermedius R. W. Long (R. W. Long 1954; Long 1966). Hybrids of H. grosseserratus with H. salicifolius have been described as H. kellermannii Britton (Long 1955), and those with H. mollis as H. brevifolius E. Watson (R. C. Jackson and A. T. Guard 1957b).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.