Helianthus californicus Nutt. ex Torr. & Gray
Family: Asteraceae
California Sunflower
Helianthus californicus image
J. E.(Jed) and Bonnie McClellan  

Perennials, 150-350 cm (rhi-zomatous). Stems erect, glabrous (glaucous). Leaves mostly cauline; mostly alternate; petioles 0-3 cm; blades (light to dark green, 3-nerved distal to bases), lanceolate, 10-20 × 2.5-6 cm, bases ± cuneate, margins entire or subentire, abaxial faces hispid to hirsute, gland-dotted. Heads 3-10. Peduncles (1-)3-15 cm (gland-dotted). Involucres broadly hemispheric, 10-25 mm diam. Phyllaries 25-35 (loose ), lanceolate, 8-15 × 3-5 mm (notably surpassing discs), (margins sometimes ciliate) apices acute to attenuate, abaxial faces hispidulous to glabrate, gland-dotted. Paleae 10-11 mm, 3-toothed (apices acute, hispidulous). Ray florets 12-21; laminae 15-30 mm. Disc florets 50+; corollas 6-8 mm, lobes yellow; anthers reddish to dark, appendages reddish brown. Cypselae 4.5-5 mm, glabrate; pappi of 2 aristate scales 3-4 mm. 2n = 102.

Flowering summer-fall. Stream banks, wet meadows, freshwater marshes; to 1600 m; Calif.; Mexico (Baja California).

Helianthus californicus image
J. E.(Jed) and Bonnie McClellan  
Helianthus californicus image
Keir Morse  
Helianthus californicus image
Keir Morse  
Helianthus californicus image
Keir Morse  
Helianthus californicus image
Barry Breckling  
Helianthus californicus image
Barry Breckling  
Helianthus californicus image
Barry Breckling  
Helianthus californicus image
Barry Breckling  
Helianthus californicus image
Barry Breckling  
Helianthus californicus image
Barry Breckling