Helianthella californica explained

Helianthella californica is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae known by the common name California helianthella. This wildflower is native to the mountains of California, northwestern Nevada, and southwestern Oregon.^[1]

Helianthella californica is a taprooted perennial herb producing erect stems up to about 60 centimeters (2 feet) tall. The many lance-shaped leaves are up to 4 centimeters (1.6 inches) wide and up to 26 cm (11 inches) long, smooth or slightly toothed along the edges. The inflorescence holds one or more sunflower-like flower heads. Each head has a center of golden disc florets with purple or reddish parts, and a fringe of yellow ray florets one or two centimeters (0.4-0.8 inches) long.^[2]

Subspecies^{[3] [4]}

• Helianthella californica subsp. californica - Coast Ranges in area near San Francisco Bay plus a few populations in northern Sierra Nevada Foothills
• Helianthella californica subsp. nevadensis (Greene) W.A.Weber - Sierra Nevada + Cascades in California, Nevada, + Oregon
• Helianthella californica subsp. shastensis (W.A.Weber) W.A.Weber - southern Cascades plus Shasta-Trinity area

External links

• Jepson Manual Treatment
• United States Department of Agriculture Plants Profile
• Calphotos photo gallery, University of California

Notes and References

1. http://bonap.net/MapGallery/County/Helianthella%20californica.png Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map
2. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=250066862 Flora of North America, Helianthella californica A. Gray 1857.
3. http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/gcc-121908 The Plant List, Helianthella californica A.Gray
4. http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-taxon=Helianthella+californica Calflora taxon report, University of California, Helianthella californica A. Gray, California helianthella