Inula helenium
Sp. Pl. 2: 881. 1753.
Plants 50–100 (–200) cm. Leaves: basal blades ± elliptic, mostly 15–40 cm × 100–200+ mm (bases decurrent onto strongly ribbed petioles, margins callose-denticulate, otherwise entire, abaxial faces velvety-woolly, adaxial thinly hairy); cauline blades ovate or elliptic to lanceolate, 10–30 cm × 45–120 mm, bases cordate, clasping, margins serrate. Involucres (20–) 30–40 mm diam. Outer phyllaries ovate, oblong, or ± deltate to lanceolate, 12–20 (–25+) × 6–8 (–20+) mm (abaxially velvety-hairy); inner phyllaries progressively narrower, less hairy, more scarious. Ray-florets (15–) 50–100+; corolla laminae (10–) 20–30+ mm. Disc corollas 9–11 mm. Cypselae 3–4 mm, glabrous; pappi of (40–) 50–60 basally connate, barbellate bristles or setiform scales 6–10 mm. 2n = 20.
Phenology: Flowering mid–late summer.
Habitat: Roadsides, waste places, streamsides
Elevation: 0–300(–600+) m
Distribution
Introduced; B.C., Man., N.B., N.S., Ont., P.E.I., Que., Calif., Conn., Del., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Ky., Maine, Md., Mass., Mich., Minn., Mo., N.H., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Oreg., Pa., R.I., Tenn., Utah, Vt., Va., Wash., Wis., Europe, Asia and beyond
Discussion
Inula helenium is widespread in the Old World.
Selected References
None.