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helenium

{{Short description|Genus of flowering plants in the daisy family Asteraceae}}

{{Automatic taxobox

| name = Sneezeweeds

| image = Helenium autumnale1.jpg

| image_caption = Helenium autumnale

| display_parents = 3

| taxon = Helenium

| authority = L. 1753 not Mill. 1754[http://www.tropicos.org/NameSearch.aspx?name=Helenium&commonname= Tropicos, search for Helenium]

| synonyms_ref = [https://archive.today/20141130085815/http://dixon.iplantcollaborative.org/CompositaeWeb/default.aspx?Page=NameDetails&TabNum=0&NameId=5c347a80-53b0-44e5-b338-f46a5c8bda35 Flann, C (ed) 2009+ Global Compositae Checklist ]

| synonyms=

  • Oxylepis Benth.
  • Hecubaea DC.
  • Mesodetra Raf.
  • Grahamia Spreng.
  • Brassavola Adans.
  • Picradenia Hook.
  • Cephalophora Cav.
  • Graemia Hook.
  • Heleniastrum Heist. ex Fabr.
  • Actinea Juss.
  • Actinella Pers.
  • Leptophora Raf.
  • Leptopoda Nutt.
  • Tetrodus Cass.

}}

Helenium is a genus of annuals and herbaceous perennial plants in the family Asteraceae, native to the Americas.[https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/358907#page/328/mode/1up Linnaeus, Carl von. 1753. Species Plantarum 2: 886] in Latin[http://www.tropicos.org/Name/40022555 Tropicos, Helenium L]

They bear yellow or orange daisy-like composite flowers. A number of these species (particularly Helenium autumnale) have the common name sneezeweed, based on the former use of their dried leaves in making snuff. It was inhaled to cause sneezing that would supposedly rid the body of evil spirits. Larger species may grow up to {{convert|2|m|ft}} tall.{{Harvnb|Hughes-Jones|2012|p=38}}

The genus is named for Helen of Troy, daughter of Zeus and Leda.[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=114856 Flora of North America Vol. 21 Page 426 Sneezeweed Helenium Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 886. 1753; Gen. Pl. ed. 5, 377. 1754. ]Homer. Circa 760–710 BCE. Iliad.

Helenium species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Phymatopus behrensii.

Genus level properties: most conspicuously globe-like disk-shaped flowers, rays three-lobed at tip.

Species

[http://bonap.net/NAPA/TaxonMaps/Genus/County/Helenium Biota of North America Program 2013 county distribution maps]Turner, B. L. 2013. The comps of Mexico. A systematic account of the family Asteraceae (chapter 11: tribe Helenieae). Phytologia Memoirs 16: 1–100

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File:Helenium 'El Dorado'. Opengebarsten bloemknop. 18-07-2021. (d.j.b).jpg|helenium 'El dorado'.

File:Bloem van een Helenium. 03-07-2021 (actm.).jpg|'helenium 'Flamingo'.

File:Verregende bloem van een Helenium 'El Dorado'. 22-07-2023. (d.j.b).jpg|helenium 'El dorado'.

File:Bloemknop van een Helenium autumnale. 20-08-2023. (d.j.b).jpg|Helenium autumnale.

Cultivation

File:Helenium hybrid.jpg

Numerous cultivars have been developed for garden use - mainly from H. autumnale and H. bigelovii. They are useful for late summer and fall bloom, usually in less formal compositions. They are appropriate for native gardens in areas where they are indigenous, and they look wonderfully in bouquets. Annual species are easily grown from seed, and perennials should be divided every year in order to retain their vigor. The soil should be fertile with a generous amount of organic manner in the form of compost, manure or other decayed organic matter in addition to, perhaps, an application of a complete fertilizer in spring. Heleniums should be grown in full sun average to moist soil with good drainage. They are drought tolerant, but should be watered on planting and regularly until established.

=Cultivars=

The following have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:-{{cite web | url= https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/pdfs/agm-lists/agm-ornamentals.pdf | title = AGM Plants - Ornamental | date = July 2017 | page = 43 | publisher = Royal Horticultural Society | access-date = 3 March 2018}}

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  • 'Baudirektor Linne'{{cite web|title=RHS Plant Selector - Helenium 'Baudirektor Linne'|url= https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/98664/Helenium-Baudirektor-Linne/Details | access-date = 30 July 2020}}
  • 'Blütentisch'{{cite web|title=RHS Plant Selector - Helenium 'Blütentisch'|url= https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/50142/Helenium-Blutentisch-Foerster/Details | access-date = 30 July 2020}}
  • 'Butterpat'{{cite web|title=RHS Plant Selector - Helenium 'Butterpat'|url= https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/64441/Helenium-Butterpat/Details | access-date = 30 July 2020}}
  • 'Dunkle Pracht' {{cite web | url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/300285/Helenium-Dunkle-Pracht/Details | title = Helenium 'Dunkle Pracht' | publisher = RHS | access-date = 30 July 2020}}
  • 'Feuersiegel'{{cite web|title=RHS Plant Selector - Helenium 'Feuersiegel'|url= https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/54674/Helenium-Feuersiegel/Details | access-date = 30 July 2020}}
  • 'Gartensonne'{{cite web|title=RHS Plant Selector - Helenium 'Gartensonne'|url= https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/99269/Helenium-Gartensonne/Details | access-date = 30 July 2020}}
  • 'Karneol'{{cite web|title=RHS Plant Selector - Helenium 'Karneol'|url= https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/135961/Helenium-Karneol/Details | access-date = 30 July 2020}}
  • 'Moerheim Beauty'{{cite web|title=RHS Plant Selector - Helenium 'Moerheim Beauty'|url= https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/89456/Helenium-Moerheim-Beauty/Details | access-date = 30 July 2020}}
  • 'Ring of Fire'{{cite web|title=RHS Plant Selector - Helenium 'Ring of Fire'|url= https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/175728/Helenium-Ring-of-Fire/Details | access-date = 30 July 2020}}
  • 'Rubinzwerg'{{cite web|title=RHS Plant Selector - Helenium 'Rubinzwerg'|url= https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/127493/Helenium-Rubinzwerg/Details | access-date = 30 July 2020}}
  • 'Sahin's Early Flowerer'{{cite web|title=RHS Plant Selector - Helenium 'Sahin's Early Flowerer'|url= https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/126137/Helenium-Sahin-s-Early-Flowerer/Details | access-date = 30 July 2020}}
  • 'Waltraut'{{cite web|title=RHS Plant Selector - Helenium 'Waltraut'|url= https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/218279/Helenium-Waltraut/Details | access-date = 30 July 2020}}
  • 'Wesergold'{{cite web|title=RHS Plant Selector - Helenium 'Wesergold'|url= https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/152206/Helenium-Wesergold/Details | access-date = 30 July 2020}}

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The UK National Collection of heleniums is located at Yew Tree House, Hall Lane, Hankelow. near Audlem in Cheshire.{{Cite web |url=http://visitchester.newmindmedia.com/whats-on-widget-collection-2014/helenium-national-collection-weekend-p144491 |title=Welcome to Chester & Cheshire, Helenium National Collection Weekend |access-date=2014-08-29 |archive-date=2014-08-29 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140829210856/http://visitchester.newmindmedia.com/whats-on-widget-collection-2014/helenium-national-collection-weekend-p144491 |url-status=dead }}[http://www.specialperennials.com/ Special Perennials, National Collections of Helenium and Centaurea, Hankelow, Cheshire, United Kingdom]

References

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=Bibliography=

{{refbegin}}

  • {{Cite book |last1=Everitt |first1=J.H. |last2=Lonard |first2=R.L. |last3=Little |first3=C.R. |title=Weeds in South Texas and Northern Mexico |publisher=Texas Tech University Press |location=Lubbock |year=2007}} {{ISBN|0-89672-614-2}}
  • {{Cite journal|last1=Hughes-Jones|first1=Martin|year=2012|title=Soaking up the sun|journal=The Garden|volume=137|issue=8|pages=36–40|location=Peterborough|publisher=Royal Horticultural Society}}

{{refend}}

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{{Taxonbar|from=Q1632842}}

Category:Asteraceae genera

Category:Helen of Troy