Oldfield Sneezeweed

Perennials, 40–100 cm. Stems usually 1, branched distally, moderately to strongly winged, densely (the proximal) to moderately hairy. Leaves moderately to densely hairy; basal blades oblanceolate to obovate to spatulate, entire or undulate-serrate; proximal and mid blades oblanceolate to lanceolate, usually entire, sometimes undulate-serrate; distal blades lanceolate to lance-linear, entire. Heads 3–20 per plant, in paniculiform to corymbiform arrays. Peduncles 3–11 cm, moderately to densely hairy. Involucres globoid to ovoid, 9–17 × 10–20 mm. Phyllaries (barely connate proximally) moderately to densely hairy. Ray florets 9–15, neuter; corollas yellow, 20–30 × 8–15 mm. Disc florets 150–500(–700+); corollas yellow proximally, reddish brown to purple distally, 3–5 mm, lobes 5. Cypselae 1–1.4 mm, sparsely to moderately hairy; pappi of 6–7, entire, non-aristate scales 0.3–0.5 mm. 2n = 28.

Helenium campestre Small, Fl. SE. U. S. 1291. 1903
A tall perennial; stem 5-10 dm. high, sparingly villous, rather broadly winged below,
narrowly so above, sparingly branched above; branches at an angle of 30°-45°; basal and lower
cauline leaves 5-9 cm. long, spatulate or oblanceolate, pinnately lobed above the middle,
sparingly villous; upper stem-leaves linear or linear-lanceolate, entire or denticulate; heads
corymbose, radiate; bracts lanceolate, 6-10 mm. long; receptacle broadly ovoid; ray-flowers
neutral; ligules 2.5-3 cm. long, 10-12 mm. wide, 3-lobed with a narrow claw; disk purplish,
more than 1 cm. broad; corollas 3 mm. long, glandular-granuliferous; tube about 0.5 mm.
long; achenes 2 mm. long, hispidulous on the ribs; squamellae ovate, obtuse, 0.5 mm. long.
Type locality: Little Rock, Arkansas. Distribution: Missouri, Arkansas, and Texas.

Helenium campestre is a North American perennial plant in the sunflower family, commonly known as oldfield sneezeweed. It is native to the southeastern United States, in Arkansas and northwestern Louisiana.

Helenium campestre is an perennial herb up to 100 cm (40 inches) tall. One plant can produce as many as 20 flower heads, in branching arrays. The head is spherical or egg-shaped, with sometimes as many as 700 disc florets, each floret yellow near the base but purple or brown towards the tip. There are also 9-15 yellow ray florets. The species grows in ditches, fields, and streambanks.