Smallhead Sneezeweed
- Description. Smallhead sneezeweed is an erect, branching, annual (sometimes biennial) herb with alternate, oblong leaves that end in a point.
- Habitat. Smallhead sneezeweed is usually found in moist habitats around tanks and ponds and in bar ditches. ...
- Toxic Agent. ...
- Signs of Livestock Ingestion. ...
Where do sneezeweed leaves come from?
These leaves occur alternately on the stem. They are directly attached, with the leaf base continuing down the stem as a wing. Sneezeweed stems can be slightly hairy and they can reach five feet or more in height. Sneezeweed can be cultivated in average to rich soils, needing moist to wet conditions and full sun.
Where can I find sneezeweed in the Ottawa National Forest?
Photo by Sue Trull, Ottawa National Forest. Common sneezeweed is a perennial plant in the daisy or aster family (Asteraceae). Its abundant yellow blooms can be found in late summer to fall, often attracting bees and butterflies. Common sneezeweed can be found in much of the United States, in moist to wet openings, edges, shores, and thickets.
Where do you find purple headed sneezeweed?
Purple-headed sneezeweed can be found in forests or natural areas and along stream banks and in wet areas. It can become weedy in disturbed areas such as old fields, pastures, and roadsides. It is also used in flower gardens as an ornamental herbaceous perennial.
What is a sneezeweed used for?
It is also used in flower gardens as an ornamental herbaceous perennial. It can be distinguished from other sneezeweeds by its round, purplish center disk.
What is sneezeweed used for?
Medicinal use of Sneezeweed: The dried nearly mature flower heads are used in a powdered form as a snuff to treat colds and headaches. When made into a tea they are used in the treatment of intestinal worms. The powdered leaves are sternutatory. An infusion of the leaves is laxative and alterative.
Is Helenium native to North America?
Helenium bolanderi is a North American species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common name coastal sneezeweed. It is native to southern Oregon and northern California as far south as Mendocino County, primarily along the seacoast.
Is sneezeweed poisonous to dogs?
The entire plant is poisonous, not good if you have inquisitive pets or young children.
Is sneezeweed invasive?
bitter sneezeweed: Helenium amarum (Asterales: Asteraceae): Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States.
What zone is Helenium?
zones 3–8You may have seen stands of helenium growing in the moist areas it loves in zones 3–8. The plants are characterized by lance-shaped foliage with stiff, upright stems....How to Grow and Care for Helenium (Sneezeweed)Botanical NameHelenium autumnaleHardiness Zones3–8 (USDA)Native AreaNorth America8 more rows•Oct 20, 2021
Why is Helenium called sneezeweed?
As the species name implies, Sneezeweed flowers in late summer or fall. The common name is based on the former use of its dried leaves in making snuff, inhaled to cause sneezing that would supposedly rid the body of evil spirits. Other Helenium species include Purple-head Sneezeweed (H.
How toxic is sneezeweed to livestock?
Eating about 1 kg of green sneezeweed leaves daily for 10 days may poison sheep. Some animals die within a few days after first signs appear. Others that develop a chronic form of poisoning may live for 2 to 3 weeks.
How do you grow sneezeweed from seed?
Sneezeweed seeds can take from 14 - 21 days to germinate, and temperatures needs to be at least 70F degrees for germination to take place. Cover the flower seed lightly with top soil. Once the plants are growing well, pinch them back in the spring by 8 - 10 inches, just above a new set of leaves.
How do you take care of sneezeweed?
Despite its tolerance for dry weather, never allow the soil to dry out as this will result in wilting completely. Ensure that you water your sneezeweed at least twice a week, and you create conditions for the soil to retain maximum moisture. Take special care to water during hotter and more humid months of the year.
Do you cut back sneezeweed?
Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale) Doesn't finish blooming until mid-fall. The foliage can be cut back and removed when it's done blooming.
Is Bitter sneezeweed poisonous?
Conditions of Poisoning Although all parts of the plant are poisonous, the blossoms are the most dangerous. For this reason, most of the cases of serious poisoning occur in the late summer and early fall. Sneezeweeds may also cause cows to give bitter milk.
Where can I find smallhead sneezeweed?
Smallhead sneezeweed is usually found in moist habitats around tanks and ponds and in bar ditches. A wet fall and spring usually assures a good crop of seedlings. Common in the western half of Texas, it also may be found throughout the state except in the East Texas Piney Woods. It grows southward into Mexico.
What is sneezeweed poisoning?
Sneezeweed poisoning is nicknamed "spewing sickness." Signs of illness appear within a few hours of consumption and include: Weakness and staggering; Diarrhea; Vomiting green material; Green salivation and nasal discharge; Bloating; Groaning and grinding of teeth; Sticky nonpelleted feces; Gastroenteritis.
Is sneezeweed a perennial or annual?
Smallhead sneezeweed is an erect, branching, annual (sometimes biennial) herb with alternate, oblong leaves that end in a point. The leaves extend down the stem to form a winged stem. The plant is a composite (sunflower family), with many small yellow flowers growing from May to October. The disk flowers (central cone) appear somewhat spherical and are equal to or more obvious than the yellow ray flowers (flower petals).
Is sneezeweed toxic to animals?
Horses and mules are also very sensitive to the toxin. Smallhead sneezeweed is extremely toxic in the flowering stage. In feeding studies, as little as 0.25 percent of an animal's body weight produced acute poisoning and death. Mature plants are more toxic than seedlings, and the winter basal rosette stage seems to lack toxicity.
How tall does basin sneezeweed get?
Bitter sneezeweed and basin sneezeweed are erect, upper-branching native annuals that reach 10 to 20 inches tall. The entire plant of both varieties has a strong odor and is bitter to the taste.
Where do yellow slugs live?
Habitat. The yellow variety is widespread in disturbed, sandy or loamy soil in the eastern to central part of the state; the dark-centered variety is often found in calcareous soil in more central and western areas of the state.
Can you cut hay with bitter sneezeweed?
Avoid cutting hay containing a large amount of bitter sneezeweed. Do not feed hay containing any of the plant to lactating dairy cows. Do not slaughter grass-fed cattle from a pasture that contains bitter sneezeweed.
Is bitter sneezeweed toxic?
A sesquiterpene lactone is responsible for the toxicity of bitter sneezeweed, which is greatest at time of lowering. This bitter plant is seldom consumed at a level high enough to produce clinical signs. However, it has been responsible for bitter, undrinkable milk and is suspected to be the cause of unpalatable meat from calves slaughtered off the range. The toxin is stable in plants contaminating hay.
Profile of sneezeweed
Use in: flowerbeds, flower bouquets, group planting, planters, rose companion, cottage garden, flower garden, prairie garden, rose garden, potted garden
Plant characteristics and classification of sneezeweed
The Sun Bride (Helenium) owes its botanical name to Carl von Linné, who was reminded of a sun by the shape of the blossom and therefore took the name from the Greek sun god Helios. Thus the name Helenium was created.
Sneezeweed – cultivation and care
Its name leaves no doubt where the sneezeweed feels comfortable. Therefore, plant the flower in a full sunny to sunny location. The perennial wants to be warm and protected from the wind, so that wind does not destroy the beautiful picture.
Use in the garden
Sneezeweeds are especially often combined with perennials, for example phlox, asters or delphinium. However, because of their origin in the North American prairies, they also fit perfectly into the prairie garden, where they compete with coneflower (Rudbeckia), bee balm (Monarda) or goldenrod (Solidago).
Where was Julian Steyermark when he found Sputnik?
In October 1957, when most Americans were gazing skyward for sightings of Sputnik, Julian Steyermark was captivated by something he found growing on the side of the road in rural Missouri.
Is Virginia sneezeweed endangered?
Based on a recently completed five-year review that reflects population, genetic and habitat data on Virginia sneezeweed collected since 1998, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recommends removing the species from the list of those considered threat ened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act.
