Whorled sunflower

Perennials, 200–300 cm (rhizomatous). Stems erect, glabrous (glaucous). Leaves cauline ; usually whorled (3s–6s), sometimes opposite; sessile or subsessile, petioles 0–1 cm; blades linear to lanceo-late, 7.5–18.5 × 0.7–3 cm, bases cuneate , margins serrulate or entire (flat), faces puberulent (abaxial) or hispid-strumose (adaxial), gland-dotted. Heads (1–)3–7+. Peduncles 1–10 cm. Involucres broadly campanulate, 15–20 mm diam. Phyllaries 45–55, lance-linear, 12–18 × 2–2.5 mm, (margins ciliate) apices long-attenuate, abaxial faces glabrate to sparsely puberulent, gland-dotted. Paleae 5–8 mm, entire or 3-toothed (apices ciliate). Ray florets 10–19; laminae 20–26 mm. Disc florets 150+; corollas 5–7 mm, lobes yellow; anthers dark, appendages yellow. Cypselae 4–5 mm, glabrous; pappi of 2 aristate scales 2.2–2.5 mm. 2n = 34.

Flowering late summer–fall. Wet prairies; of conservation concern; 100–300 m; Ala., Ga., Tenn.

Helianthus verticillatus is relatively uncommon and was recently rediscovered in scattered locations; it is a candidate for federal listing as an endangered species. It has been suggested to be a hybrid of H. angustifolius and H. eggertii or H. grosseserratus; no supporting evidence has been found to corroborate that suggestion.