Helianthus eggertii

Perennials, 30–200+ dm (rhizomatous). Stems erect, glabrous (distinctively bluish, glacous). Leaves cauline; all or mostly opposite; sessile; blades (1-nerved) lanceolate to lance-ovate, 7–16.5 × 1.5–3.5 cm, bases cuneate, margins entire or serrulate, faces glabrous (abaxial) or strumose (adaxial), gland-dotted. Heads 1–5. Peduncles 1–4 cm. Involucres hemispheric, 10–25 mm diam. Phyllaries 30–38, lanceolate, 12–16 × 3.5–4.5 mm, (margins ciliate) apices acuminate, abaxial faces glabrate, not gland-dotted. Paleae 9–11 mm, entire or ± 3-toothed (apices deltate). Ray florets 10–18; laminae 15–20 mm. Disc florets 70+; corollas 5–7 mm, lobes yellow; anthers dark, appendages dark or ± yellowish. Cypselae 4–6 mm, glabrous; pappi of 2 aristate scales 3–4 mm plus 0–1 deltate scales 0.5–1 mm. 2n = 102.

Phenology: Flowering late summer–fall.
Habitat: Open barrens, open oak-hickory woodlands
Elevation: 100–300 m

Ala., Ky., Tenn.

Discussion

Helianthus eggertii is similar to H. strumosus and H. laevigatus; it is distinguished by the distinctive blue coloration of stems and leaves and by the leaves usually 1-nerved, in contrast to the 3-nerved condition typical for the genus. It is listed federally as an endangered species; R. L. Jones (1994) found it to be more common than was previously thought, and it is now in the process of being removed from the federal list.

of conservation concern

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa