Inula

Linnaeus

Sp. Pl. 2: 881. 1753.

,

Gen. Pl. ed. 5, 375. 1754.

Etymology: Greek inaein, to clean, alluding to medicinal effects or Latin inula, an ancient name for elecampane
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 19. Treatment on page 473. Mentioned on page 40, 471, 474.
 TaxonIllustrator 
FNA19 P53 Pulicaria paludosa.jpegPulicaria paludosa
Dittrichia graveolens
Inula helenium
Yevonn Wilson-Ramsey
Yevonn Wilson-Ramsey
Yevonn Wilson-Ramsey

Perennials [annuals], 20–200 cm. Leaves basal (usually withering before flowering) and cauline; petiolate (proximal) or sessile (distal); blade margins usually serrate to dentate, sometimes entire. Heads radiate [disciform, discoid], borne singly or in open, corymbiform arrays. Involucres hemispheric or campanulate, [5–] 10–40 mm diam. Phyllaries persistent, in 4–7+ series. Receptacles flat or convex, smooth or alveolate, epaleate. Ray-florets (15–) 50–150+, pistillate, fertile; corollas yellow [orange], laminae 10–30+ mm. Disc-florets mostly (50–) 100–250+; corollas yellow, lobes 5. Cypselae ± columnar (subterete) or prismatic (± 4–5-ribbed or angled); pappi persistent, of basally connate, barbellate bristles or setiform scales in 1 series. x = 8, 9, 10.

Distribution

Introduced; Old World

Discussion

Species ca. 100 (3 in the flora).

The three species in the flora are probably escapes from cultivation. Formerly, Inula was circumscribed more broadly.

Selected References

None.

Key

1 Blades of basal (and proximal cauline) leaves 100–200 mm wide; involucres (20–)30–40 mm diam.; outer phyllaries 6–8(–20+) mm wide Inula helenium
1 Blades of basal (and proximal cauline) leaves mostly 10–30 mm wide; involucres 7–15(–20) mm diam.; outer phyllaries mostly 0.5–2.5 mm wide > 2
2 Blades of cauline leaves lance-elliptic to lance-linear (venation not raised adaxially, reticulation not evident); outer phyllaries 4–6 × 0.5–0.8 mm Inula britannica
2 Blades of cauline leaves broadly elliptic to lanceolate (venation raised adaxially, reticulation prominent); outer phyllaries 5–7 × 1.5–2.5 mm Inula salicina
... more about "Inula"
rounded;truncate +
scarious +
ovate +  and lanceovate or linear +
corymbiform +  and open +
indeterminate +  and determinate +
Neil A. Harriman +
Linnaeus +
decurrent +
compound +  and simple +
entire +, usually serrate +  and dentate +
prismatic +  and columnar +
fertile +  and bisexual +
Old World +
Greek inaein, to clean, alluding to medicinal effects +  and or Latin inula, an ancient name for elecampane +
pistillate +, staminate +  and neuter +
winged +  and beaked +
dispersed +
in open , corymbiform arrays +  and singly +
indeterminate +
heterogamous +
each +  and sessile +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (4 cm40 mm <br />0.04 m <br />) +
campanulate;hemispheric +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (3 cm30 mm <br />0.03 m <br />) +
sessile +  and petiolate +
cauline +  and basal +
deltate +
serrate +, dentate +  and entire +
2-carpellate +
persistent +
unequal +  and subequal +
Sp. Pl. +  and Gen. Pl. ed. +
1753 +  and 1754 +
bearing subulate enations +, hairy +  and bristly +
alveolate +  and smooth +
convex;flat +
setiform +
exalbuminous +
prostrate +  and ascending +
appendaged +  and truncate +
papillate +
Compositae +
Asteraceae tribe Inuleae +
20 cm200 mm <br />0.2 m <br /> (200 cm2,000 mm <br />2 m <br />) +
tree +, vine +, shrub +  and subshrub +
10 +, 9 +  and 8 +