Plant: Ashy Sunflower
| Name: Helianthus mollis Aster family (Asteraceae) |
Description: Grayish green plants to 3 tall, with
conspicuously hairy stems and leaves. The leaves are stiff, opposite, and up to 6"
long and 3" wide, with rounded to notched, stalkless bases. the leaves taper to
pointed tips, and the edges of the leaves often have small teeth. there are one to few
individually stalked flower heads at the top of the plant, with each head 2 1/2 - 4"
wide. Each head has many thin, narrow, overlapping, green bracts at its base, up to 30
yellow, petal-like ray flowers, and a central disk with yellow disk flowers and brown
bracts. Habitat and Range: One of the most widespread and characteristic species of upland prairies in the southern half of the tallgrass region, from northern Illinois southward. (Falcon Guide- Tallgrass Prairie Wildflowers: Ladd/Oberle)
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Photos courtesy: PHS