ASTERACEAE ASTER FAMILY Plant: herbs (annual or perennial), some shrubs, rarely vines or trees. Stem: Root: Often with tubers, rhizomes, stolons, or fleshy roots Leaves: mostly simple, some compound, alternate or opposite, rarely whorled. Flowers: flower head supported by an involucre (whorl of green bracts); each head composed of small flowers (composite) of flat ray-like (ligulate) flowers on the outside (ray flowers) and central tube-like flowers (disk flowers) some species may have only one or the other. Calyx absent or modified into hairs, bristles, scales or a crown (pappus); 5 stamens (syngenesious -united by anthers); 5 united petals (sympetalous), receptacle may also have hairs or bristles. Both pappus and receptacle hairs/bristles may be used in ID. Fruit: achene (small, one-seeded, inferior ovule, 2 carpels, hard shell fruit) often with persisting crowned pappus which helps with seed dispersal. Other: Very large family, 1-2,000 genera, 20,000+ species. Dicotyledons Group WARNING family descriptions are only a layman s guide and should not be used as definitive
ASTERACEAE ASTER FAMILY Blanket-Flower [Firewheel, Indian Blanket]; Gaillardia pulchella Fouq. (introduced) Shaggy Soldier [Common Quickweed]; Galinsoga quadriradiata Cav. Spoonleaf Purple Everlasting [Cudweed]; Gamochaeta purpurea (L.) Cabrera Narrowleaf [Spiny-Toothed] Gumweed; Grindelia lanceolata Nutt. var. lanceolata Curlycup [Curly-Top] Gumweed; Grindelia squarrosa (Pursh) Dunal Bitterweed [Yellowdicks]; Helenium amarum (Raf.) H. Rock var. amarum (Introduced) Common Sneezeweed; Helenium autumnale L. Purplehead Sneezeweed; Helenium flexuosum Raf. Common [Garden] Sunflower; Helianthus annuus L. Cucumberleaf Sunflower; Helianthus debilis Nutt. ssp. Debilis Woodland Sunflower; Helianthus divaricatus L. Tall [Giant ] Sunflower; Helianthus giganteus L. Sawtooth Sunflower; Helianthus grosseserratus Martens Hairy [Stiff-Haired; Oblong] Sunflower; Helianthus hirsutus Raf. Maximilian Sunflower; Helianthus maximiliani Schrad. Ashy [Downy] Sunflower; Helianthus mollis Lam. Western [Fewleaf] Sunflower; Helianthus occidentalis Riddell Stiff [Prairie] Sunflower; Helianthus pauciflorus Nutt. Willowleaf Sunflower; Helianthus salicifolius A. Dietr. Paleleaf Woodland Sunflower; Helianthus strumosus L. Jerusalem artichoke; Helianthus tuberosus L.
ASTERACEAE ASTER FAMILY Smooth Oxeye [False] Sunflower; Heliopsis helianthoides (L.) Sweet Camphorweed [Telegraph Plant]; Heterotheca subaxillaris (Lam.) Britton & Rusby White Hawkweed; Hieracium albiflorum Hook. Orange Hawkweed [Devil s Paint-Brush]; Hieracium aurantiacum L. (Introduced) King Devil [Field Hawkweed]; Hieracium caespitosum Dumort. (Introduced) Canadian Hawkweed; Hieracium canadense Michx. Slender Hawkweed; Hieracium gracile Hook. Maryland Hawkweed; Hieracium greenii Porter & Britt. Hairy [Long-Bearded or -Haired] Hawkweed; Hieracium longipilum Torr. Wall Hawkweed; Hieracium murorum L. (Introduced) Rough Hawkweed; Hieracium scabrum Michx. Old Plainsman; Hymenopappus scabiosaeus L'Hér. var. scabiosaeus [Hairy] Cat's Ear; Hypochaeris radicata L. (Introduced)
Blanket-Flower [Firewheel; Indian Blanket] Gaillardia pulchella Fouq. var. pulchella (introduced) Cave City area, Sharp County, Arkansas Notes: 7+ ray flowers, deeply 3-parted, tips yellow with redpurple-brown base, disc flowers turning reddish-brown; leaves lanceolate, mostly sessile to clasping, some short petiolate near plant base; stem often quite hairy; summer to early fall [V Max Brown, 2007]
Shaggy Soldier [Common Quickweed; Peruvian Daisy] Galinsoga quadriradiata Cav. Shawnee State Park, Scioto County, Ohio Notes: ray flowers mostly (4)5, white, 3-toothed, disk flowers yellow, pappus with sharp tip; leaves elliptical to ovate, distinctly toothed, hairy, short petiolate; stem moderately to densely hairy; summer to fall [V Max Brown, 2007]
Spoonleaf Purple Everlasting [Cudweed] Gamochaeta purpurea (L.) Cabrera Greers Ferry Lake area, Cleburne County, Arkansas Notes: discoid; 2+ flowering heads; basal leaves +/- at flowering, spatulate to oblanceolate, upper stem leaves almost wide linear, underside densely matted woolly, upperside sparsely woolly (purpurea with expanded basal hair cells); stem matted woolly; spring (species ID tentative) [V Max Brown, 2011]
Narrowleaf [Spiny-Toothed] Gumweed Grindelia lanceolata Nutt. var. lanceolata Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area, Christian County, Missouri Notes: ray flowers (~15-30) yellow, disk flowers yellow, bracts awl-shaped, ascending to spreading in several rows; leaves narrow lanceolate, sessile, mostly with sharp teeth with bristles; stems often reddish, some hairs; tall plant (1-2 m) late summer to fall [V Max Brown, 2010]
Curlycup [Curly-Top] Gumweed Grindelia squarrosa (Pursh) Dunal Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Chase County, Kansas Notes: ray and disc flowers yellow, bracts curling and or spreading in several rows, very resinous from glands; leaves elliptical to oblong, sessile, mostly with dull teeth without bristles, very glandular and resinous; lower stems somewhat woody; very gummy plant; summer to early fall (varieties present, one discoid) [V Max Brown, 2010]
Bitterweed [Yellowdicks; Yellow Dog Fennel; Bitter Sneezeweed] Helenium amarum (Raf.) H. Rock var. amarum (Introduced) Near Sam A. Baker State Park, Wayne County, Missouri Notes: ray flowers 5-10, yellow, 3-toothed, disk yellow; leaves and leaf segments mostly filiform to linear, sharp pointed, glandular; summer to fall; [V Max Brown, 2006]
Common Sneezeweed Helenium autumnale L. Maumee River Metroparks, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: ray flowers 12+, 3-toothed, often drooping, disk flowers yellow; leaves lanceolate to ovate lanceolate, entire to somewhat toothed, sharp pointed, sessile and decurrent on stem giving wings; stem glabrous to somewhat hairy; moist areas; summer to fall (varieties disputed probably var. autumnala) [V Max Brown, 2004]
Purple-Headed Sneezeweed Helenium flexuosum Raf. Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge, White County, Arkansas Notes: ray flowers 8+, yellow (may have purple at base), usually drooping, disk brownish to brownish-purple; leaves lanceolate, mostly entire, leaf decurrent down stem giving wings, hairy or not; stem hairy or not; summer to fall [V Max Brown, 2007]
Common [Garden] Sunflower Helianthus annuus L. Maumee River Metroparks, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: ray flowers yellow, disk flowers red to reddish-purple to brown, disk up to 8+ cm and flat, bracts long-pointed; leaves mostly alternate, large, ovate, serrate, lower leaves usually cordate, long petioles; tall plant (up to 3+ m) with large stem; often hybridized for ornamentals and seed; summer to fall [V Max Brown, 2007]
Cucumberleaf Sunflower Helianthus debilis Nutt. ssp. Debilis Cedar Key, Levy County, Florida Notes: ray flowers vary (10-20), yellow and slightly notched, disc flowers yellow turning red, phyllaries lanceolate, long pointed, fine hairs; leaves alternate, triangular, somewhat hairy, toothed, petiolate; stem hairy and scabrous; upright plant; spring to fall (sometimes in winter) [V Max Brown, 2011]
Woodland Sunflower Helianthus divaricatus L. Oak Openings Metropark, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: ray flowers (5-15) yellow, disk flowers yellow, bracts longpointed in several rows; leaves lanceolate, pubescent, oval to subcordate and 3-veined at base, nearly sessile, opposite and decussate; stems mostly solitary, often purple and glaucous; summer to fall [V Max Brown, 2004]
Tall [Giant ] Sunflower Helianthus giganteus L. Oak Openings Metropark, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: ray flowers (10-15-20) yellow, disk flowers yellow, bracts spreading, very long, in several rows, ciliate; leaves lanceolate, acuminate, mostly sessile to very short petioles, tapering at both ends, toothed or not, often more opposite below and alternate above, hairy below especially on veins, somewhat rough above; stems often reddish to purple with spreading stiff white hairs; tall plant (1-2 m); summer to early fall [V Max Brown, 2008]
Sawtooth Sunflower Helianthus grosseserratus Martens Maumee River Metroparks, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: ray flowers (10-20) yellow, disk flowers yellow, bracts ciliate; leaves alternate, lanceolate, tapering and 3-veined at base, with petioles, white tomentose beneath, serrate or not; stem often reddish, glabrous and often glaucous; tall plant (up to 4+ m); late summer to fall (often hybridizes with H. giganteus) [V Max Brown, 2007]
Hairy [Stiff-Haired; Oblong] Sunflower Helianthus hirsutus Raf. Maumee River Metroparks, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: ray flowers (8-15) yellow, disk flowers yellow, bracts longpointed in several rows, densely hairy; leaves opposite, lanceolate to ovate, tapering quickly at base, rough and hairy on both sides, mostly entire to serrate, with short petioles; stem with abundant stiff hairs; plant quite variable; summer to early fall [V Max Brown, 2009]
Maximilian Sunflower Helianthus maximiliani Schrad. Wilson s Creek National Battlefield, Greene County, Missouri Notes: ray flowers (10-20+) yellow, disk flowers yellow; bracts long, pointed, minutely hairy in several rows; leaves alternate, short petiolate, narrowly USDA lanceolate, usually folded upward, densely short hairy on both surfaces, mostly entire to sometimes toothed; stem short hairy above, often smooth below at flowering; tall plant (1-3 m); summer to fall [V Max Brown, 2010]
Ashy [Downy] Sunflower Helianthus mollis Lam. Cave City area, Sharp County, Arkansas USDA Notes: ray flowers yellow, disc (up to 3cm) yellowish, bracts in several series; leaves ascending, ovate to lanceolate, mostly opposite to alternate, sessile, mostly subcordate at base; plant densely hairy all over; prairies and open areas; summer to fall [V Max Brown, 2007]
Western [Few-Leaved] Sunflower Helianthus occidentalis Riddell Oak Openings Metropark, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: disc and ray flowers (10-15) yellow, disc up to 15 mm, bracts in several series; stem pubescent; leaves mostly near base, ovate to lanceolate, petioles mostly long, stem leaves reduced and mostly opposite; summer to fall [V Max Brown, 2007]
Stiff [Prairie] Sunflower Helianthus pauciflorus Nutt. Wilson s Creek National Battlefield, Greene County, Missouri Notes: ray flowers (10-20+) yellow, disk flowers red-brown or purplish, bracts oblanceolate to ovate, with sharp point, hairy particularly on edges, in several rows; leaves opposite and thick, mostly lanceolate, tapering at both ends, 3 major veins with 2 side veins beginning above leaf base; rough hairy on both sides, short petiolate; stem rough hairy; late summer to fall (2 subspecies reported) [V Max Brown, 2010]
Willowleaf Sunflower Helianthus salicifolius A. Dietr. Close Memorial Park, Greene County, Missouri Notes: ray flowers (10-20+) yellow, disk flowers brown to dark purple, bracts linear to narrowlanceolate, spreading and very long and sharp pointed in several rows; many leaves, linear, sessile, mostly alternate, commonly drooping; stems glabrous and usually glaucous; tall plant (1-3+ m); late summer to fall [V Max Brown, 2011]
Paleleaf Woodland Sunflower Helianthus strumosus L. Oak Openings Metropark, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: ray flowers (8-15) yellow, disk flowers yellow, bracts long-pointed in several rows, often glabrous on back but ciliate on the edges; leaves opposite, mostly lanceolate, tapering quickly at base, rough on top and hairy on bottom especially along veins (some almost glabrous), petioles increasing in length toward base to about 3 cm, entire to weakly serrate; stem glabrous and glaucous; summer to fall [V Max Brown, 2009]
Jerusalem artichoke Helianthus tuberosus L. Near Maumee, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: ray flowers (10-20) yellow, disc flowers yellow, phyllaries ciliate; leaves alternate above, often opposite below, ovate to lanceolate, rough on both surfaces, tapering to petiole (somewhat winged), toothed; stem with stout hairs; tall plant, up to 2-3 m+; summer to fall [V Max Brown, 2008]
Smooth Oxeye [False] Sunflower Heliopsis helianthoides (L.) Sweet Oak Openings Metropark, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: ray flowers yellow (orangish) and fertile, disc flowers fertile, yellow and convex, receptacles more columnar than flat; all leaves opposite, coarsely toothed, the larger leaves on long petioles, prominent pair of veins besides midrib; stem smooth to short hairy (rough); summer to fall [V Max Brown, 2006]
Camphorweed [Telegraph Plant] Heterotheca subaxillaris (Lam.) Britton & Rusby Big Cane Conservation Area, Butler County, Missouri Notes: ray (15-35+ flowers) and disc flowers yellow, up to 6 series of overlapping linear bracts (hairy and usually glandular); leaves elliptical to lanceolate-ovate, mostly sessile and clasping, with coarse and sharp teeth; stem usually moderately to dense with long spreading hairs; late summer to fall [V Max Brown, 2011]
White Hawkweed Hieracium albiflorum Hook. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado Notes: ligulate; flowers white (cream), 5+ heads (about 1 cm in diameter), bracts with black-tipped (sometimes glandular) hairs; leaves mostly in basal rosette and on lower stem, entire, lanceolate, bristly hairy on veins, margins, and upper surface; lower stem long hairy, upper stem glabrous; foothills to montane environments (woods); summer [V Max Brown, 2012]
Orange Hawkweed [Devil s Paint-Brush] Hieracium aurantiacum L. (Introduced) Whitefish Point, Chippewa County, Michigan Notes: ligulate; reddish orange, several heads, bracts very hairy; leaves mostly basal, elliptical to lanceolate, very long hairy above and below, cauline leaves reduced; stem with long hairs; summer to fall [V Max Brown, 2008]
King Devil [Field Hawkweed] Hieracium caespitosum Dumort. (Introduced) Maumee River Metroparks, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: ligulate; yellow, 5 to many heads on single stem, bracts with black-tipped hairs; leaves mostly basal and present upon flowering, narrow-ovate to lanceolate, long hairs on both sides; stem with long hairs; summer to early fall [V Max Brown, 2005]
Canadian Hawkweed Hieracium canadense Michx. Kitty Todd Nature Preserve, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: ligulate; yellow, many flowering heads, bracts smooth and in several series; basal leaves usually absent upon flowering, stem leaves present all along stem and about the same size lanceolate, often nearly sessile, irregularly but well toothed; middle and lower stem hairy; fairly rare in Ohio; late summer to fall [V Max Brown, 2006]
Slender Hawkweed Hieracium gracile Hook. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado Notes: ligulate; flowers yellow, 5+ heads (about 1 cm in diameter), bracts with blacktipped (sometimes glandular, hairs and some stellate hairs; leaves in basal rosette, entire, mostly spatulate, only slightly hairy; foothills to alpine environments; summer [V Max Brown, 2012]
Maryland Hawkweed Hieracium greenii Porter & Britt. Oak Openings Metropark, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: ligulate; yellow, 5+ heads, bracts with black-tipped hairs; leaves mostly basal, ovate to elliptical, with long hairs on both sides; stem with long hairs particularly lower; summer (ID tentative, similar to H. venosum but without red veins) [V Max Brown, 2005]
Hairy [Long-Bearded or -Haired] Hawkweed Hieracium longipilum Torr. Wilson s Creek National Battlefield, Greene County, Missouri Notes: ligulate; flowers (40-90), yellow, several heads, bracts with glandular hairs; leaves mostly basal, somewhat ovate to elliptical, acute or blunt tip, with long hairs (to 2+ cm); stem to 1m+, also with long hairs; uplands; summer to fall [V Max Brown, 2010]
Wall Hawkweed Hieracium murorum L. (Introduced) Mackinac Island, Mackinac County, Michigan Notes: ligulate; flowers yellow, 5+ heads, bracts with black-tipped hairs; leaves mostly from basal part of stem, lanceolate, size of teeth or lobes increase toward sub-cordate to ovate base, hairy, particularly on veins below, usually 1-2 cauline leaves; stem hairy; summer (ID tentative) [V Max Brown, 2008]
Rough Hawkweed Hieracium scabrum Michx. Mackinac Island, Mackinac County, Michigan Notes: ligulate; flowers yellow, 5+ heads, bracts with black-tipped glandular hairs; leaves cauline (no basal leaves at least at flowering), alternate, entire, hairy on both sides, reduced above; stem densely long hairy below, densely glandular pubescent above; commonly in sandy soils; summer to fall [V Max Brown, 2008]
Old Plainsman Hymenopappus scabiosaeus L'Hér. var. scabiosaeus Roaring River State Park, Barry County, Missouri Notes: discoid; flowers white to cream colored, bracts whitish in 2-3 series, inflorescence felty hairy; cauline leaves 2-3 pinnatifid, segments becoming almost linear or filliform, smooth above, hairy below; stem grooved, densely hairy or not; spring to summer [V Max Brown, 2010]
[Hairy] Cat's Ear Hypochaeris radicata L. (Introduced) Watauga Lake Area, Carter County, Tennessee Notes: ligulate; flowers yellow, several heads on long and branched scape, phyllaries sharply pointed and hairy on dorsal ridge; cauline leaves very reduced, basal leaves - long pubescent, hispid, entire, mostly pinnatifid or with rounded teeth, lower stem with a few bristles; late spring to early fall [V Max Brown, 2008]