Scientific Family
Asteraceae
Other common names
bitterweed
fall sneezeweed
false sunflower
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
2 to 5 feet
Riparian
Yes
1 plant can produce as many as 100 yellow flower heads in a branching array; each head has 11 to 21 ray flowers which are turned backward with a scalloped edge of 3 lobes; yellow center of disc flowers is globe-shaped, not flattened.
2 to 5 feet tall perennial; rigid, heavily winged stems branch near the top; leaves dark green, alternate, lance-shaped; mostly single daisy-like flowers; distinctive wedge-shaped, bright yellow rays; prominent, dome-like, dull yellow center.
Habitat
Roadsides, fields, along streams, ditches, seepage areas, around ponds and lakes.
Plant Community
Riparian
Disturbed Areas
Low elevation
4000
High elevation
6200
Flower Characteristics
Flower heads stemmed, mostly single; stems 1 to 4 inches long, moderately to densely hairy; whorl of bracts to 3/4 inch long and to 1 inch wide, moderately to densely hairy; female, fertile ray flowers; corollas yellow; 200 to 400 disc flowers.
Flower color
Yellow, brownish-yellow
Flower shape
Daisy or dandelion-like
Tubular
No
First bloom month
July
Last bloom month
November
Flower clusters
None
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Alternate; moderately to densely hairy; basal blades lance-like; smooth or weakly lobed; center and mid-blades oval to lance-shaped, smooth.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
1/16 inch long, sparsely to moderately hairy. Modified sepals of the achenes are extremely variable, as is the color of the hairs on the achenes, varying from white to reddish-brown.
Fruit type
Achene