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Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Wyethia helianthoides (Sunflower mule-ears)
Bransford, W.D. and Dolphia

Wyethia helianthoides

Wyethia helianthoides Nutt.

Sunflower Mule-ears

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: WYHE2

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

Stout, leafy, hairy stems grow from a cluster of basal leaves, and have at top a flower head with about 13 white or pale cream rays and a yellow disc.

This species, the only white-rayed Wyethia, often forms dense patches in low spots in valleys.

 

From the Image Gallery

12 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Size Notes: Up to about 32 inches tall.
Fruit: Fruit is a cypsela (pl. cypselae). Though technically incorrect, the fruit is often referred to as an achene.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Yellow
Bloom Time: May , Jun

Distribution

USA: ID , MT , NV , OR , WY
Native Distribution: From central Oregon to southwestern Montana, northwestern Wyoming, and northern Nevada.
Native Habitat: Moist meadows in mountains.

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:AGCPAKAWCBEMPGPHIMWNCNEWMVE
Status: FACW FACW
This information is derived from: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. (2023). 2022 National Wetland Plant List, version 3.6. U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Vicksburg, MS. https://wetland-plants.usace.army.mil/. Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Wyethia helianthoides in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Wyethia helianthoides in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Wyethia helianthoides

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-01-30
Research By: TWC Staff

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