(Heliopsis helianthoides var. occidentalis)
Conservation Status | IUCN Red List |
not listed |
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NatureServe |
NNR - Unranked SNR - Unranked |
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Minnesota |
not listed |
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Wetland Indicator Status |
Great Plains |
FACU - Facultative upland | |||||
Midwest |
FACU - Facultative upland |
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Northcentral & Northeast |
FACU - Facultative upland |
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Nativity | Native |
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Occurrence | Common |
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Habitat | Dry. Fields, prairies, woods, waste places. Full sun. |
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Flowering | July to September |
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Flower Color | Yellow ray florets, slightly darker yellow disk florets |
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Height | 2′ to 5′ |
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Identification | This is a 2′ to 5′ tall, erect, perennial forb that rises from a creeping rhizome with fibrous roots. There are three varieties of this plant. The center of distribution for this variety is the upper Great Plains. It is the only variety found in Minnesota. The stem is erect, occasionally branched, even bushy on open situations. The upper part of the stem is rough to the touch due to minute, stiff hairs. The lower stem is less rough. Leaves are opposite, both on the main stem and within the inflorescence. They are triangular egg-shaped, roughly like an equilateral triangle. They are on leaf stalks that can be 1 ⁄16″ to ⅝″ long, those of the main leaves averaging ½″. The blades can be 2⅓″ to 4¾″ long and ¾″ to 2″ wide and taper gradually to a pointed tip. The main leaves are usually 2¾″ to 4″ long and 1″ to 19 ⁄16″ wide. They are conspicuously veined. The upperside is rough to the touch due to minute, stiff hairs. The underside is less rough. The margins are coarsely toothed. The inflorescence is 1 to 15 erect flower heads on 3½″ to 10″ long, leafless stalks at the ends of the stems. The flower head is 2″ to 3½″ wide and has 8 to 18, usually 12 to 15, yellow ray florets. The disk is cone-shaped, ⅓″ to 1″ wide, and has 10 to 75 slightly darker yellow disk florets. There is no floral scent. Unlike true sunflowers in the family Helianthus, the ray flowers are fertile. They remain attached to the head after they shrivel and become papery (see photo below). |
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Similar Species |
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Distribution | ![]() |
Sources: 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 28. | |||||
Comments |
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Taxonomy | Family: |
Asteraceae (aster) |
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Subfamily: |
Asteroideae |
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Supertribe: |
Helianthodae |
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Tribe: |
Heliantheae (sunflower) |
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Synonyms | Heliopsis helianthoides ssp. occidentalis Heliopsis helianthoides ssp. scabra Heliopsis helianthoides var. occidentalis Heliopsis minor Heliopsis scabra |
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Common Names |
false sunflower heliopsis smooth ox-eye |
Glossary
Rhizome
A horizontal, usually underground stem. It serves as a reproductive structure, producing roots below and shoots above at the nodes.
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Other Videos | |||
Oxeye Sunflower - Heliopsis helianthoides in bloom at Ion Exchange Ionxchange |
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About
Uploaded on Aug 7, 2011 Earthyman views Oxeye Sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides) in full bloom at Ion Exchange native seed and plant nursery in northeast Iowa. http://www.ionxchange.com |
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Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center Charles A. Lindbergh State Park Minnesota Valley NWR Mound Spring Prairie SNA Northern Tallgrass Prairie NWR Pembina Trail Preserve SNA Sand Prairie Wildlife Management and Environmental Education Area |
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