Helenium amarum

bitterweed, yellowdicks, bitter sneezeweed, narrow leaved sneezeweed
Family

Asteraceae

Leaf Arrangement

alternate, basal (rosulate)

Leaf Margin

entire

Leaf Type

dissected, simple

Leaf Shape

linear, oblanceolate

Growth Form

forb

Flower Color

yellow

Flower Petals

8

Flower Month

April - December

Height (meters)

0.0 - 1.0

Milky Sap

No

Armed/Unarmed

Unarmed

Origin

native

Lifespan

annual

Growing Season

Warm season


Wetland Class

FACU

Wetland Coefficient of Conservatism

2

Prairie Coefficient of Conservatism

0

Field Characters

An annual, tap rooted forb with solitary stems branched near the top with numerous yellow heads borne at the top of the plant.

Cultural Information

In the wild, seeds generally germinate in the fall and overwinter as rosettes (Caplenor 1961). Fresh seeds germinate within 2-4 days when planted in a greenhouse.

Animal Use

Very unpalatable to cattle. Sometimes eaten when forage is scarce and results in bitter milk.

Natural History

A warm-season, shallow-rooted annual that reproduces by seed. One of many plants known as bitter weed because a few bites taken by a cow will result in bitter milk. It is unpalatable and in extreme overgrazing it can be toxic. It is an invader on overgrazed prairie and can be found in old fields and roadsides. It is shallow rooted and easily controlled by mowing and management for vigorous perennial species.

Habitat

Open prairies, sandy soil, roadsides, pastures, fields, and waste places.