Fineleaf Hymenopappus (3)
Fineleaf Hymenopappus is easily overlooked because it has no ray flowers and small flower heads. It is usually a woolly/hairy plant with stems branching from a rosette or mound of basal leaves. Leaves are twice-divided into narrow or thread-like leaflets which are sometimes covered in woolly hairs, giving a grey appearance. Enlarged tubular disk flowers have five lobes and range in color from very yellow to almost white. There are 13 varieties of this species according to Flora of North America. These are some which I have identified from normal photos and one I cannot, they all seem different to me; the growth habit varies, as does the number of basal leaves, woolliness and thickness of leaflets. See the similar Chalk Hill Hymenopappus differentiated by being a biennial with a single flowering stem and whitish disk flowers.
Fineleaf Hymenopappus Family:
Sunflower (Asteraceae) Grows from 8" to 24" high with whitish stems branching from a mound of basal leaves which are densely woolly at the base. Leaves are twice-divided into narrow leaflets covered in woolly hairs, giving a grey appearance. Stems have few leaves and branch into multiple flower heads which have pale, woolly bracts and no ray flowers. Flower heads are ¼" to ½" high and can be yellowish or whitish. Flora of North America reference |
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Manyhead Hymenopappus Family:
Sunflower (Asteraceae) Growing to 16" high with multiple flower stems. Leaflets are not woolly except at the base and are a soft green. Flowers are bright yellow with yellow/greenish woolly bracts.
Flora of North America reference |
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Fineleaf Hymenopappus Family:
Sunflower (Asteraceae) Grows to 2 ½ feet high covered in dense white hair in a more rounded bushy form. Basal and stem leaflets are very finely divided. Flowers are less than ½" across and yellow.
Flora of North America reference |
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Fineleaf Hymenopappus UFO Family:
Sunflower (Asteraceae) Growing to 16" high with multiple flower stems. Leaflets are not woolly and a soft green. Flowers are white with greenish, woolly bracts with reddish margins. On different plants stigmas are pink or yellow, both turning brown.
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