FALSE SUNFLOWER OXEYE

(Heliopsis helianthoides; H. laevis of Gray) Thistle family



Flower-heads - Entirely golden yellow, daisy-like, 1 1/2 to 2 1/2

in. across, the perfect disk florets inserted on a convex, chaffy

receptacle, and surrounded by pistillate, fertile, 3-toothed ray

florets; usually numerous solitary heads borne on long peduncles

from axils of upper leaves. Stem: 3 to 5 ft. tall, branching

above, smooth. Leaves: Opposite, ovate, and tapering to a sharp

point, sharply and evenly toothed.

Preferred Habitat - Open places; rich, low ground; beside

streams.

Flowering Season - July-September.

Distribution - Southern Canada to Florida, westward to Illinois

and Kentucky.



Along the streams the numerous flower-heads of this gorgeous

sunbearer shine out from afar, brightening a long, meandering

course across the low-lying meadows. Like heralds of good things

to come, they march a little in advance of the brilliant pageant

of wild flowers that sweeps across the country from midsummer

till killing frost. Most people mistake them for true,

yellow-disked sunflowers, whose ray florets are neutral, not

fertile as these long persistent ones are, But no one should

confuse them with the dark cone-centered ox-eye daisy. Small

bees, wasps, hornets, flies, little butterflies, beetles, and

lower insects come to feast on the nectar and pollen within the

minute tubular disk florets. The bright fulvous and black pearl

crescent butterfly, with a trifle over an inch wing expanse; the

common hairstreak; the even commoner little white butterfly; and

the tiny black sooty wing, among others, appear to find generous

entertainment here. The last named little fellow, when in the

caterpillar stage, formed a cradle for himself by folding

together a leaf of the ubiquitous green-flowered pigweed or

lamb's quarters (Cizenopodium album) and stitching the edges

together with a few silken threads. Here it slept by day,

emerging only at night to feed. Usually one has not long to wait

before discovering the white-dotted sooty wing among the

midsummer composites.





BLACK-EYED SUSAN; YELLOW or OX-EYE DAISY; NIGGER-HEAD; GOLDEN