Helianthus paradoxus

Helianthus paradoxus (paradox sunflower, puzzle sunflower, Pecos sunflower) is a threatened species of sunflower found only in west Texas, Utah, and New Mexico[1] salt marshes by the edges of inland salt lakes and salt flats.

Helianthus paradoxus

Imperiled  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Eudicots
(unranked):
Asterids
Order:
Asterales
Family:
Asteraceae
Genus:
Helianthus
Species:
H. paradoxus
Binomial name
Helianthus paradoxus

Helianthus paradoxus formed 75,000-208,000 years ago as a hybrid of H. annuus, the common sunflower, and Helianthus petiolaris, the prairie sunflower. The hybrid is more tolerant of salt than either parent species. Helianthus paradoxus is found in areas with salinity levels range from 10 to 40 parts per thousand. Due to its ability to withstand such high levels of salt, H. paradoxus is considered to be a halophyte.[2][3][4][5]

Pecos sunflower is an annual, herbaceous plant. It grows 1–3 meters (3.3–9.8 ft) tall and is branched at the top. The leaves are opposite on the lower part of the stem but alternate at the top, lance-shaped with three prominent veins, and up to 17.5 centimeters (6.9 in) long by 8.5 cm (3.3 in) wide. The stem and leaf surfaces have a few short, stiff hairs. Flower heads are 5–7 cm (2–3 in) in diameter with bright yellow rays around a dark purplish brown center (the disc flowers). Flowers are produced in September and October, much later than many other sunflowers.[4]

This species was added to the Endangered Species Act on October 20, 1999. It is found in spring seeps, wet meadows, pond margins, and stream courses. All these populations are dependent on natural groundwater deposits.[6]

References
  1. Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map
  2. Welch, M. E. & Rieseberg, L. H. (2002). Habitat Divergence between a Homoploid Hybrid Sunflower Species, Helianthus paradoxus (Asteraceae), and its progenitors. American Journal of Botany 89 (3): 472-478.
  3. Van Auken, O. W. and Bush, J.K. (1998). Spatial Relationships of Helianthus paradoxus (Compositae) and associated salt marsh plants. Southwestern Naturalist 43: 313-320.
  4. Flora of North America, Helianthus paradoxus Heiser, 1958. Pecos or paradox sunflower
  5. Heiser, Charles Bixler 1958. Rhodora 60(718): 272–274 description in Latin, commentary in Latin, full-page line drawing on page 273
  6. United States Department of Agriculture, National Forest Service, Final Recovery Plan


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