Autumn Sneezeweed, Common Sneezeweed, False Sunflower, Staggerwort, Yellow Star - Helenium autumnale
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Helenium autumnale - Autumn Sneezeweed, Common Sneezeweed, False Sunflower, Staggerwort, Yellow Star. Helenium autumnale is the most widely distributed of the eighteen North American Sneezeweeds, being found in all but three states in the U.S. - missing in Hawaii, Alaska, and New Hampshire. While it is native to the United States and much of Canada, it is naturalized in the parts of New England where it is now found. It grows in wet soils, flowering from late summer thru mid-autumn.
Sneezeweeds do not get that name from causing hay fever - the leaves were once made into a snuff that was used to cause sneezing, either expelling evil spirits or relieving congestion - pick the lore you prefer. Interestingly in large quantities all parts of the plant can be poisonous to humans.
Found in:
AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY
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Distribution of Helenium autumnale in the United States and Canada:
Map courtesy of The Biota of North America Program.
Map color key
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| | Site: Botetourt County, VA Date: 2013-October-02 | Photographer: Gerald C. Williamson
Nikon D7000
Tamron SP 90MM f/2.8 AF Macro | | Autumn Sneezeweed has a hemispheric greenish-yellow central disc and 8 to 21 bright yellow fan-shaped ray florets, tipped with 3 shallow lobes. These ray florets will start drooping soon after the flower opens. | | 
| | Site: Botetourt County, VA Date: 2013-October-02 | Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D7000 | | The distinctive central disc has several hundred 5-lobed greenish-yellow florets. The disc is reminiscent of that of the Green-headed Coneflower, Rudbeckia laciniata. | | Click on the photo for a larger image
| | Site: Botetourt County, VA Date: 2013-October-02 | Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D7000 | | Helenium autumnale grows up to 5 feet tall in wet soils along stream, pond, and ditch banks. It may have several branches. A plant may produce 5 to 100 or more flowers. The leaves may be toothed or entire, and may be obovate to lanceolate. Most leaves are cauline, but there are basal leaves which are withered by flowering. (A similar but quite rare species, Helenium virginicum, has basal leaves which remain while the plant is flowering.) The stem and leaves may be glabrous to moderately hairy. | | Click on the photo for a larger image
| | Site: Botetourt County, VA Date: 2013-October-02 | Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D7000 | | As with most North American members of Helenium (H. amarum being the exception), the stems of Autumn Sneezeweed have wings, the continuation of the decurrent leaves. | | Click on the photo for a larger image
| | Site: Botetourt County, VA Date: 2013-October-02 | Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D7000 | | The leaves are usually obovate to lanceolate, and may be glabrous or hairy. | | Click on the photo for a larger image
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References used for identification and information:
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