Helianthus laciniatus | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Asterales |
Family: | Asteraceae |
Genus: | Helianthus |
Species: | H. laciniatus
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Binomial name | |
Helianthus laciniatus | |
Synonyms [1] | |
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Helianthus laciniatus is a North American species of sunflower known by the common name alkali sunflower. [2] It is found in the southwestern United States (southeastern Arizona, southern New Mexico, western Texas) [3] and north-central Mexico ( Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, Durango). [4] It is fairly common in the Chihuahuan Desert. [5]
Helianthus laciniatus is a perennial herb up to 200 cm (almost 7 feet) tall. Most of the leaves are on the stem rather than clumped together close to the ground, each leaf is up to 9 cm (2.7 inches) long. One plant usually produces 1-9 flower heads. Each head has with 14–20 yellow ray florets surrounding 40 or more red or purple disc florets. The plant grows in dry, alkaline desert soils. [5]