Eriophyllum lanatum
Common woolly sunflower | |
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Dark Divide in Washington | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
(unranked): | Angiosperms |
(unranked): | Eudicots |
(unranked): | Asterids |
Order: | Asterales |
Family: | Asteraceae |
Genus: | Eriophyllum |
Species: | E. lanatum |
Binomial name | |
Eriophyllum lanatum (Pursh) Forbes | |
Synonyms[1][2] | |
Synonymy
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Eriophyllum lanatum. |
The common woolly sunflower[3] (Eriophyllum lanatum), also known as Oregon sunshine, is a common, widespread, North American plant in the sunflower family.[4]
Lewis and Clark saw Eriophyllums growing above their camp on the Clearwater near present day Kamiah, Idaho. They gathered two specimens (the plant was then unknown to science) on June 6, 1806.
Range and habitat
Eriophyllum lanatum is native to western North America, commonly growing in many dry, open places below 10,000 ft, but it also grows on rocky slopes and bluffs. It is most common in California, but grows as far north as Vancouver, Canada and east as far as Wyoming.[5][6] There are historical reports of the species growing in Mexico, but those populations are now likely extirpated.[3]
Growth pattern and form
Eriophyllum lanatum is a perennial herb growing from 1 to 2 feet (30 to 60 centimeters) in height. The woolly sunflower grows in well-branched clumps. Both stems and leaves may be covered with a woolly gray hair, but some plants lack this hair. The hairs conserve water by reflecting heat and reducing air movement across the leaf's surface. The hairs impart a dusty gray color to the plant.[3]
Leaves and stems
The leaves are linear on the upper stems; the lower portions of the stem have slender, pinnately lobed leaves.[3]
Inflorescence
Flowers are yellow and composite, looking much like true sunflowers, and sometimes grow to 2 inches (5 cm) wide. Both the ray and disk flowers are yellow, with one flower head on each flowering stalk.[3]
It blooms from May to August,[4] and prefers full sun and well-drained soil.
The name "woolly sunflower" is often used to describe any member of the genus Eriophyllum.
- Eriophyllum lanatum var. achillioides (DC.) Jeps. - California, Nevada, Oregon
- Eriophyllum lanatum var. arachnoideum (Fisch. & Avé-Lall.) Jeps. - California Coast Ranges from Del Norte County to Monterey County
- Eriophyllum lanatum var. croceum (Greene) Jeps. - Sierra Nevada in California
- Eriophyllum lanatum var. grandiflorum (A.Gray) Jeps. - Oregon, California, †Baja California
- Eriophyllum lanatum var. hallii Constance - Kern County + Santa Barbara County in California
- Eriophyllum lanatum var. integrifolium (Hook.) Smiley - California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming
- Eriophyllum lanatum var. lanatum - Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington
- Eriophyllum lanatum var. lanceolatum (Howell) Jeps. - California, Oregon
- Eriophyllum lanatum var. leucophyllum (DC.) W.R.Carter - British Columbia; Oregon, Washington
- Eriophyllum lanatum var. obovatum (Greene) H.M.Hall - California
References
- ↑ The Plant List, Eriophyllum lanatum (Pursh) J.Forbes
- 1 2 Tropicos, Eriophyllum lanatum (Pursh) J. Forbes
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Flora of North America, Eriophyllum lanatum (Pursh) J. Forbes, 1833. Common woolly sunflower
- 1 2 Sierra Nevada Wildflowers, Karen Wiese, 2nd Ed. 2013, p. 116
- ↑ Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map
- 1 2 Calflora taxon report, University of California, Eriophyllum lanatum (Pursh) James Forbes, Common woollysunflower, Wooly Sunflower, common woolly sunflower, woolly sunflower
- Pink, A. (2004). Gardening for the Million. Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.
External links
- Jepson manual Treatment
- United States Department of Agriculture Plants Profile
- Calphotos Photo gallery, University of California
- Turner Photographics, Eriophyllum lanatum - Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest includes photos, description, partial distribution map
- Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, University of Texas