[Members of the Sunflower Family on Mt. Adams with Flower Heads Like Daisies]

Douglas' Sunflower, Little Sunflower, False Sunflower, Oneflower Helianthella, Douglas' Helianthella

Helianthella uniflora var. douglasii

Flower head of Douglas' Sunflower, Little Sunflower, False Sunflower, Oneflower Helianthella, Douglas' Helianthella: Helianthella uniflora var. douglasii

The photo above shows the flower head of Rocky Mt. helianthella as seen high on the Island Springs Trail #66 in the Yakama Nation at the southeasterncorner of Mt. Adams..........June 16, 2005.

Characteristics:

Little sunflower, also known as false sunflower, is an attractive perennial wildflower suitable for the woodland or shrubland garden, especially in drier climates. The one to several stems arise from 20-100 cm high from a woody base. The herbage is variable, consisting either of many minute hairs, many longer, stiff and spreading hairs, or occasionally lacking hairs. The lowest 1-2 pairs of leaves are opposite, while the upper ones are alternate. The leaves are rough to the touch with 3 nerves or main veins in the blade. They range up to 15 cm long and up to 5 cm wide and are lanceolate to elliptical in shape. The lower leaves are more oblanceolate and smaller than the upper leaves.

The flower heads are usually solitary with the yellowish central disk 1.5-3 cm wide. The 13-21 rays are yellow and measure 2-4.5 cm long. The leafy involucral bracts are lance-linear in shape with rounded to pointed tips. They are covered with rough hairs.


Habitat:

Little sunflower is found in open woods and brushy areas at moderate elevations.


Range:

Little sunflower may be found east of the Cascade Mountain crest, from British Columbia, south through Washington to Oregon and east to Montana, Nevada and New Mexico.


Douglas' Sunflower, Little Sunflower, False Sunflower, Oneflower Helianthella, Douglas' Helianthella: Helianthella uniflora var. douglasii

The photo above shows the erect, simple stems of Rocky Mt. helianthella with its rough, elliptical leaves. Island Springs Trail #66, Tract D, Yakima Nation Lands, Mt. Adams.......July 17, 2006

Douglas' Sunflower, Little Sunflower, False Sunflower, Oneflower Helianthella, Douglas' Helianthella: Helianthella uniflora var. douglasii

Rocky Mountain helianthella blooming along the trail on the north side of Little Mount Adams, Tract D Yakama Nation lands on Mount Adams.............August 13, 2012.

Douglas' Sunflower, Little Sunflower, False Sunflower, Oneflower Helianthella, Douglas' Helianthella: Helianthella uniflora var. douglasii

Island Springs Trail #66, Tract D, Yakima Nation Lands, Mt. Adams........July 17, 2006.

Douglas' Sunflower, Little Sunflower, False Sunflower, Oneflower Helianthella, Douglas' Helianthella: Helianthella uniflora var. douglasii

Note the numerous spreading, whitish hairs on the involucral bracts in this sideview of Rocky Mt. helianthella. Island Springs Trail #66, Tract D, Yakima Nation Lands, Mt. Adams.........July 17, 2006.

Paul Slichter