Helianthus praecox explained

Helianthus praecox is a North American species of sunflower known by the common name Texas sunflower. It is endemic to Texas. Most of the populations are either along the Gulf Coast or in the Río Grande Valley.^[1]

Helianthus praecox grows on sandy soils and coastal prairies. It is an annual herb up to 150 cm (60 inches or 5 feet) tall. One plant usually produces 1-3 flower heads, each containing 11-16 yellow ray florets surrounding 35 or more red or purple disc florets.^[2]

Subspecies^{[2] [3]}

• Helianthus praecox subsp. hirtus (Heiser) Heiser - near Carrizo Springs in Dimmit County
• Helianthus praecox subsp. praecox - sandy soils along the coast in Galveston County + Brazoria County
• Helianthus praecox subsp. runyonii (Heiser) Heiser - Coastal prairies (from Calhoun County to Cameron County) and Río Grande Valley (from Webb County to Cameron County)

External links

• William Carr, University of Texas, Helianthus praecox var. runyonii [Asteraceae<nowiki>] – Runyon's sunflower] photos

Notes and References

1. http://bonap.net/MapGallery/County/Helianthus%20praecox.png Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map
2. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=250066896 Flora of North America, Helianthus praecox Engelmann & A. Gray, 1847. Texas sunflower
3. http://www.phytologia.org/uploads/2/3/4/2/23422706/962107-109turner_helianthus_texas_sunflower.pdf Billie L. Turner. 2014. Taxonomy of the Texas sunflower (Helianthus praecox) Asteraceae. Phytologia (April 1, 2014) 96(2) 107