Helianthus grosseserratus

Helianthus grosseserratus, commonly known as sawtooth sunflower or thick-tooth sunflower[3] , is a perennial sunflower in the family Asteraceae, with a large flowering head (inflorescence).

Sawtooth sunflower
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Eudicots
(unranked):
Asterids
Order:
Asterales
Family:
Asteraceae
Genus:
Helianthus
Species:
H. grosseserratus
Binomial name
Helianthus grosseserratus
Synonyms[2]
  • Helianthus instabilis E.Watson

The plant may reach 3–12 feet (91–366 cm) in height and is found along streams, damp prairies and roadsides in the eastern and central parts of Canada and the United States, primarily in the northern Great Plains and Great Lakes Region, with additional populations as far as Maine, Georgia, and Texas.[3][4] It prefers full sun and moist, fertile loamy soil with high organic content.[5]

The lanceolate leaves are simple and alternate and may reach 4 to 12 inches (10–30 cm) long and from 1 to 4 inches (2–10 cm) wide. The leaves have large teeth along the edges (hence the name, sawtooth) to occasionally nearly entire and the tips are pointed.[6]

The head (formally composite flower) is 3 to 4 inches (7–10 cm) wide with golden-yellow disk flowers that bloom in summer and autumn. The 10-20 yellow ray florets are about 1.5 inches (3.81 cm) long. The fruit is a single achene within a husk.[6]

Various insects, birds and mammals (including cattle) feed on either the plant or its seeds.[5][7]

Native Americans used to treat burns with a poultice made from the flowers.[7]

References
  1. "Helianthus grosseserratus". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 2010-10-11.
  2. "Helianthus grosseserratus". The Global Compositae Checklist (GCC) – via The Plant List.
  3. "Helianthus grosseserratus". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 2008-07-16.
  4. "Helianthus grosseserratus". County-level distribution map from the North American Plant Atlas (NAPA). Biota of North America Program (BONAP). 2014.
  5. Hilty, John (2016). "Helianthus grosseserratus". Illinois Wildflowers. Retrieved 2008-07-16.
  6. Schilling, Edward E. (2006). "Helianthus grosseserratus". In Flora of North America Editorial Committee (ed.). Flora of North America North of Mexico (FNA). 21. New York and Oxford – via eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
  7. Haddock, Mike (2018). "Sawtooth sunflower". Kansas Wildflowers and Grasses.
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