Helenium autumnale var. grandiflorum (Nutt.) Torr. & Gray
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TAXONOMY
 
Family: Asteraceae or Compositae
Genus: Helenium
 
Species Synonyms: Helenium macranthum Rydb.
Common Names: fall sneezeweed
large-flowered sneezeweed
common sneezeweed
 
DISTRIBUTION
 
Canada: southern Mackenzie District – British Columbia – Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan: central – southeastern Saskatchewan; Ile-a-la-Crosse – Churchill River Valley – Souris River Valley
Ecoregion: Moist Mixed Grassland, Mid-Boreal Upland, Churchill River Upland
 
HABITAT
 
Saskatchewan: thickets, meadows, and shores
Associated Species: Picea mariana, Populus tremuloides
 
RARITY STATUS
 
Provincial Status According
to Harms (2003):
Vulnerable
Nature Conservancy Status:
G5T3T5
Saskatchewan Species at
Risk Status:
None
COSEWIC Status:
None
 
Helenium autumnale var. grandiflorum is listed as vulnerable in Saskatchewan but there is no information available regarding the designation of this species at risk. It is likely that this species, though it occurs over a wide range in the province, is uncommon.
 
SPECIES DESCRIPTION
 
Height: 30 – 120 cm tall
Roots: fibrous, subrhizomatous
Stems: branched at top, round, glabrous, winged
Leaves: cauline, alternate, sessile, not reduced much upwards, 4 – 15 cm long, to 4 cm wide, lanceolate to elliptic or ovate, apex acute, resinous-punctate, margin entire
Inflorescence: heads several in a leafy cluster, 1 – 2 cm across; peduncles long; phyllaries 14 – 18, reflexed at maturity, narrow, attenuate; receptacle globose
Flowers: ligulate florets 10 – 20, pistillate, tip 3-lobed, yellowish, conspicuous veins, reflexed at maturity; tubular florets many, yellow
Fruits: achenes 1.4 mm long; pappus scales 5, < 1 mm long, lanceolate, awn-tipped, appressed hairy
 
KEY TO HELENIUM AUTUMNALE VARIETIES IN SASKATCHEWAN
   
Rays 1.5 to 2.5 cm long; plant commonly glabrate
var. grandiflorum
Rays 1 to 1.5 cm long; plant commonly minutely puberulent
var. montanum