Eriophyllum lanatum
| Common Wooly Sunflower | ||||||||||||||
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| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||
| Eriophyllum lanatum | ||||||||||||||
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Actinella lanata |
The Common Wooly Sunflower (Eriophyllum lanatum), also known as Oregon Sunshine, is a widespread, herbaceous dicot of the sunflower family Asteraceae. It is native to western North America, commonly growing in many dry, open places below 10,000 ft, but it also grows on rocky slopes and bluffs. It is most common in California, but grows as far north as Vancouver, Canada.
This perennial plant grows from 1-2’ (30-60 cm) in height. Flowers are yellow and composite, looking much like true sunflowers, and sometimes grow to 2’’ wide. Both the ray and disk flowers are yellow, with one flower head on each flowering stalk. The leaves are linear on the upper stems; the lower portions of the stem have slender, pinnately lobed leaves.
The Wooly Sunflower grows in well-branched clumps. Both stems and leaves may be covered with a wooly gray hair, but some plants lack this hair. The hairs conserve water by reflecting heat and reducing air movement across the leaf's surface. The hairs impart a dusty gray color to the plant.
It blooms from May to August, and prefers full sun and well-drained soil.
A dozen or so varieties of this plant are recognized. The name “Wooly Sunflower” is often used to describe any member of the genus Eriophyllum.
Lewis and Clark saw Eriophyllums growing above their camp on the Clearwater near present day Kamiah, Idaho. They gathered two specimens (the plant was then unknown to science) on June 6, 1806.
References
- Pink, A. (2004). Gardening for the Million. Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia; from the article "Eriophyllum lanatum". Image Credit.
