Scientific Family
Asteraceae
Synonyms
Helianthus arizonicus
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Perennial
Similar species
Helianthus ciliaris, H. laciniatus
Height
To nearly 1 foot
Riparian
No
Perennial with long creeping roots and smooth, bluish-green, erect, climbing stems. Leaves are lance-shaped, bluish-green and stalkless. Flowers have small yellow sunflower-like heads which grow singly or in rounded clusters of up to 7 at the branch tips.
Perennial with rhizomes, stems erect; leaves opposite, gradually smaller up the stem, bluish-green; phyllaries (bracts) narrow to lance-like, hairy; disc flowers (30+) and ray flowers (10 to 14) yellow; anther tips triangular.
Habitat
Dry, frequently sandy soil especially in open pine woodlands. This species is rare and poorly known from relatively few sites.
Plant Community
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Montane Conifer Forest
Low elevation
4000
High elevation
7000
Flower Characteristics
There are 1 to 7 flower heads per branch. Each head has an outer rim of 10 to 14 strap-shaped yellow ray florets encircling a center of 30+ yellow tiny tube-like disc florets. Below the flower head are leaf-like bracts fringed with fine marginal hairs.
Flower color
Yellow
Flower shape
Daisy or dandelion-like
Tubular
No
First bloom month
June
Last bloom month
August
Flower clusters
Rounded
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Leaves are about 2 to 3 inches long and 1/2 inch wide with the leaf tip having a short, sharp point. The margins are generally smooth but may be wavy (undulate). The leaf surface is smooth (glabrous) and has a bluish-green color.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Bluish-green
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
None
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Fruit is a type of achene called a cypsela. It is dry, flat, smooth, 1-seeded and about 1/8 inch long. It has 2 thin stiff bristles at its tip which detach easily aiding in fruit dispersal. The cypsela does not split open when mature to release the seed.
Fruit type
Achene
The single seed nearly fills the inside of the fruit but does not adhere to it making it easier to separate from the fruit and disperse.