Helianthus schweinitzii

About

Helianthus schweinitzii, commonly known as Schweinitz's sunflower, is a rare, federally endangered perennial wildflower native to the Piedmont physiographic province of North Carolina and South Carolina. It is a member of the sunflower family (Asteraceae). Typically growing between 1 and 2 meters tall, the plant is distinguished by its yellow ray flowers, narrow leaves, and unique ecological and genetic traits. It is primarily found in specialized open habitats such as prairies, roadsides, and utility and highway rights-of-way in the Carolinas. It is one of the rarest species of sunflower in the United States, with only about 90 known populations, many containing fewer than 40 plants each. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed Schweinitz's sunflower as an endangered species on May 7, 1991.

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