Home Asteraceae Helianthus

Helianthus divaricatus L.

Common Name: WOODLAND SUNFLOWER
Coefficient of Conservatism: 5
Coefficient of Wetness: 5
Wetness Index: UPL
Physiognomy: Nt P-Forb

This is one of the species clearly native to Michigan. It does not occur very far west of the Great Lakes, except at latitudes much farther south. Typically in dry ± open forests and savannas of oak, pine, or aspen, especially at edges; fencerows, fields, roadsides, and railroads.

Some plants with distinct but short petioles and other intermediate characters are considered to be hybrids. Hybrids with H. giganteus have been named H. ×ambiguus (Torr. & A. Gray) Britton; specimens so determined have leaves resembling H. divaricatus or intermediate in shape and sparsely hairy stems. The somewhat dubious Menominee Co. material referred to H. hirsutus could conceivably be this hybrid or something approaching H. strumosus. Other intermediate plants, but with glabrous stems, have been named H. ×divariserratus R. W. Long, the other parent being H. grosseserratus.

R. W. Smith

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Counties
Alcona
Allegan
Barry
Benzie
Berrien
Branch
Calhoun
Cass
Cheboygan
Clare
Clinton
Crawford
Dickinson
Genesee
Gogebic
Grand Traverse
Gratiot
Hillsdale
Huron
Ingham
Iosco
Jackson
Kalamazoo
Kent
Lake
Lapeer
Leelanau
Lenawee
Livingston
Macomb
Mason
Mecosta
Monroe
Montcalm
Montmorency
Muskegon
Newaygo
Oakland
Oceana
Oscoda
Ottawa
Presque Isle
Roscommon
Shiawassee
St. Clair
St. Joseph
Tuscola
Unknown
Van Buren
Washtenaw
Wayne

Citation:
MICHIGAN FLORA ONLINE. A. A. Reznicek, E. G. Voss, & B. S. Walters. February 2011. University of Michigan. Web. March, 17, 2025
https://lsa-miflora-p.lsait.lsa.umich.edu/#/record/348