Family Compositae or Asteraceae (Composite Family).
Elecampane is a tall and striking flower, imported from Europe,
recognizable by its thick stems of sunflower-like flower heads with
narrow, shaggy rays. It is not particularly common around here, but
abundant where it does take up residence. These plants were blooming in
Highland Park in late July.
Gray describes the genus and the species:
ÍNULA L. ELECAMPANE. Heads many-flowered, radiate; disk-flowers perfect
and fertile. Involucre Imbricated, hemispherical, the outer bracts
herbaceous or leaf-like. Receptacle naked. Anthers caudate. Achenes more
or less 4-5-ribbed; pappus simple, of capillary bristles. — Coarse herbs,
not floccose-woolly, with alternate simple leaves, and large yellow heads.
(The ancient Latin name.)
I. Helènium L. (ELECAMPANE.) Stout perennial, 1-1.6 m. high;
leaves large, woolly beneath; those from the thick root ovate, petioled,
the others partly clasping; rays very many, narrow. — Roadsides and damp
pastures. Aug. — Heads very large. Root mucilaginous. (Nat. from Eu.)
