WILDFLOWERS
OF THE ESCAMBIA
Darryl N. Searcy
Autumn Sneezeweed
Helenium autumnale
Asteraceae (Composite Sunflower) Family
The plant is an upright or sprawling perennial with numerous
branches. Its preferred habitat is moist ditches, swamps and
damp meadows. Distribution is throughout the Escambia region.
The leaves are alternate on the stem, up to six inches
long on the lower stem and reduced upward; lance-like in form
and toothed at the leaf margin. The leaf base often forms a winged
extension down the stem.
The numerous flowers are large daisy-like heads, about
one inch in diameter, three rounded toothed and drooping. The
disc flowers are conspicuous greenish-yellow ball-like structures
at the center of each head. All flowers are bisexual in nature
and symmetrical in form. Flowering occurs in late summer and
early autumn.
The fruit of Autumn Sneezeweed is a seed which outer layer
is fused to it (achene).
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