Eriophyllum lanatum

Common woolly sunflower
File:Eriophyllum lanatum 3575.JPG
Dark Divide in Washington
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Genus:	Eriophyllum
Species:	E. lanatum
Binomial name
Eriophyllum lanatum (Pursh) Forbes
Synonyms
Synonymy Actinella lanata Pursh 1813 Actinea lanata (Pursh) Steud. Bahia lanata (Pursh) DC. Helenium lanatum (Pursh) Spreng. Trichophyllum lanatum (Pursh) Nutt. Eriophyllum caespitosum Douglas ex Lindl. Eriophyllum harfordii Rydb. Eriophyllum pedunculatum] A.Heller Eriophyllum superbum Rydb. Bahia achillioides DC., syn of var. achillioides Eriophyllum achilleoides (DC.) Greene, syn of var. achillioides Eriophyllum greenei Elmer, syn of var. achillioides Eriophyllum idoneum Jeps., syn of var. achillioides Eriophyllum ternatum Greene, syn of var. achillioides Bahia arachnoidea Fisch. & Avé-Lall., syn of var. arachnoideum Bahia latifolia Lindl. 1853 not Benth. 1844, syn of var. arachnoideum Bahia trolliifolia (Lag.) DC., syn of var. arachnoideum Eriophyllum arachnoideum (Fisch. & Avé-Lall.) Greene, syn of var. arachnoideum Eriophyllum trolliifolium Lag., syn of var. arachnoideum Eriophyllum croceum Greene, syn of var. croceum Egletes californica Kellogg, syn of var. grandiflorum Eriophyllum grandiflorum (A.Gray) Greene, syn of var. grandiflorum Eriophyllum speciosum Greene, syn of var. grandiflorum Bahia cuneata Kellogg, syn of var. integrifolium Bahia gracilis Hook. & Arn., syn of var. integrifolium Bahia integrifolia (Hook.) DC., syn of var. integrifolium Bahia leucophylla D.C.Eaton 1871 not DC. 1836, syn of var. integrifolium Bahia multiflora (Nutt.) Nutt., syn of var. integrifolium Eriophyllum bolanderi Rydb., syn of var. integrifolium Eriophyllum chrysanthum Rydb., syn of var. integrifolium Eriophyllum cineraria Rydb., syn of var. integrifolium Eriophyllum cuneatum Rydb., syn of var. integrifolium Eriophyllum gracile (Hook. & Arn.) A.Gray, syn of var. integrifolium Eriophyllum integrifolium (Hook.) Greene, syn of var. integrifolium Eriophyllum lutescens Rydb., syn of var. integrifolium Eriophyllum monoense Rydb., syn of var. integrifolium Eriophyllum multiflorum (Nutt.) Rydb., syn of var. integrifolium Eriophyllum nevadense Gand., syn of var. integrifolium Eriophyllum trichocarpum Rydb., syn of var. integrifolium Eriophyllum watsonii A.Gray, syn of var. integrifolium Trichophyllum integrifolium Hook., syn of var. integrifolium Trichophyllum multiflorum Nutt., syn of var. integrifolium Eriophyllum lanceolatum Howell, syn of var. lanceolatum Eriophyllum rixfordii Eastw., syn of var. lanceolatum Eriophyllum leucophyllum (DC.) Howell, syn of var. leucophyllum Eriophyllum brachylepis Rydb., syn of var. obovatum Eriophyllum obovatum Greene, syn of var. obovatum

The common woolly sunflower (Eriophyllum lanatum), also known as Oregon sunshine, is a common, widespread, North American plant in the sunflower family.

Lewis and Clark saw Eriophyllums growing above their camp on the Clearwater near present day Kamiah, Idaho. They gathered two specimens (the plant was then unknown to science) on June 6, 1806.

Range and habitat

Eriophyllum lanatum is native to western North America, commonly growing in many dry, open places below 10,000 ft, but it also grows on rocky slopes and bluffs. It is most common in California, but grows as far north as Vancouver, Canada and east as far as Wyoming. There are historical reports of the species growing in Mexico, but those populations are now likely extirpated.

Growth pattern and form

Eriophyllum lanatum is a perennial herb growing from 1 to 2 feet (30 to 60 centimeters) in height. The woolly sunflower grows in well-branched clumps. Both stems and leaves may be covered with a woolly gray hair, but some plants lack this hair. The hairs conserve water by reflecting heat and reducing air movement across the leaf's surface. The hairs impart a dusty gray color to the plant.

Leaves and stems

The leaves are linear on the upper stems; the lower portions of the stem have slender, pinnately lobed leaves.

Inflorescence

Flowers are yellow and composite, looking much like true sunflowers, and sometimes grow to 2 inches (5 cm) wide. Both the ray and disk flowers are yellow, with one flower head on each flowering stalk.

It blooms from May to August, and prefers full sun and well-drained soil.

The name "woolly sunflower" is often used to describe any member of the genus Eriophyllum.

Varieties

• Eriophyllum lanatum var. achillioides (DC.) Jeps. - California, Nevada, Oregon
• Eriophyllum lanatum var. arachnoideum (Fisch. & Avé-Lall.) Jeps. - California Coast Ranges from Del Norte County to Monterey County
• Eriophyllum lanatum var. croceum (Greene) Jeps. - Sierra Nevada in California
• Eriophyllum lanatum var. grandiflorum (A.Gray) Jeps. - Oregon, California, †Baja California
• Eriophyllum lanatum var. hallii Constance - Kern County + Santa Barbara County in California
• Eriophyllum lanatum var. integrifolium (Hook.) Smiley - California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming
• Eriophyllum lanatum var. lanatum - Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington
• Eriophyllum lanatum var. lanceolatum (Howell) Jeps. - California, Oregon
• Eriophyllum lanatum var. leucophyllum (DC.) W.R.Carter - British Columbia; Oregon, Washington
• Eriophyllum lanatum var. obovatum (Greene) H.M.Hall - California

External links

• Jepson manual Treatment
• United States Department of Agriculture Plants Profile
• Calphotos Photo gallery, University of California
• Turner Photographics, Eriophyllum lanatum - Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest includes photos, description, partial distribution map
• Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, University of Texas