Alkali Sunflower

Helianthus laciniatus reaches the northern extent of its range in New Mexico and Texas; it is relatively common in the Chihuahuan Desert areas of Mexico. It is similar to H. ciliaris; it usually has hairy stems as well as denser leaf indument that includes a greater number of subsessile, glandular hairs.

Perennials, 50–120(–200) cm. Stems erect, usually strigose or hispid to glabrate. Leaves cauline; opposite or alternate; sessile; blades (green or grayish, 1- or 3-nerved) lanceolate, 5–9 × 0.5–3.5 cm, bases ± cuneate, margins entire or irregularly toothed to lobed, faces strigose to strumose, gland-dotted (adaxial sometimes glaucous). Heads 1–9. Peduncles 4–13 cm. Involucres hemispheric, 10–24 mm diam. Phyllaries 16–21, lanceolate, 6–7.5 × 1.8–2.5 mm (often subequal), (margins ciliate) apices acute, abaxial faces hispidulous or strigose to glabrate, gland-dotted. Paleae 7–7.8 mm, entire or 3-toothed (apices obtuse to acute, hispid-ciliate to glabrate). Ray florets 14–20; laminae ca. 8–11 mm. Disc florets 40+; corollas 4.8–5.8 mm, lobes reddish; anthers purplish, appendages reddish (style branches yellow). Cypselae 2.7–3.5 mm, glabrate; pappi of 2(–3) aristate scales 1.4–2.5 mm. 2n = 34.

Helianthus crenatus R. C. Jackson; H. heiseri R. C. Jackson

Helianthus laciniatus is a North American species of sunflower known by the common name alkali sunflower. It is found in the southwestern United States (southeastern Arizona, southern New Mexico, western Texas) and north-central Mexico (Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, Durango). It is fairly common in the Chihuahuan Desert.

Helianthus laciniatus is a perennial herb up to 200 cm (almost 7 feet) tall. Most of the leaves are on the stem rather than clumped together close to the ground, each leaf is up to 9 cm (2.7 inches) long. One plant usually produces 1-9 flower heads. Each head has with 14–20 yellow ray florets surrounding 40 or more red or purple disc florets. The plant grows in dry, alkaline desert soils.