MAXIMILIAN SUNFLOWER
Helianthus maximiliani
SUNFLOWER FAMILY (Asteraceae)
Identification
- Flowering time - September, October
- Common in prairies at NW - Uncommon at FF
- Toothless, sickle-shaped leaves that are folded along the midrib
- Light colored central disk
- Flowers occuring at intervals, often halfway down the stem
This native perennial with erect stems either single or in clumps, usually grows from 3 to 6 feet tall, occasionally up to 9 feet. Upper stems are covered with fine whitish hairs giving them a gray-greenish look (D). Narrow, alternate leaves 3-8 inches long and 1/2 to 1 1/2 inches wide, are sickle-shaped, arch gently downward, and are folded along the midrib into a shallow “Vee” (B,C). Few to numerous flower heads 2-3 inches wide arise from the junction of the leaf and stem, often occuring up to halfway down the stem (C). From 10-25 yellow, petal-like ray florets surround the seed-producing, yellow disk florets (A).
Grows on diverse prairie sites, roadsides and ditches. It is one of our last prairie plants to bloom, flowering in September and October and is common in many of the Neale Woods prairies. It is uncommon in prairie sites at Fontenelle Forest.
The characteristically folded, sickle-shaped leaves differentiate Maximilian’s from our other sunflowers except for Sawtooth Sunflower (Helianthus grosseserratus) which, unlike Maximilian’s Sunflower, has toothed leaves on shorter stalks. Maximilian’s also has interrupted flower clusters often extending halfway down the stem unlike the those of Sawtooth Sunflower which arise from the upper stem or branches. The light colored disk further separates it from Common Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) and many Stiff Sunflowers (Helianthus pauciflorus) which have dark central disks.
Named for German Prince Maximilian von Wied-Neuwied, who first collected and described this sunflower. He visited the Indian Agency post, just inside the south border of present day Fontenelle Forest, during his trip up and down the Missouri River in 1833/34.
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