Helianthus debilis

Helianthus debilis
Conservation status
Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Genus:	Helianthus
Species:	H. debilis
Binomial name
Helianthus debilis Nutt.
Synonyms[1]
Helianthus cucumerifolius Torr. & A.Gray, syn of subsp. cucumerifolius Helianthus vestitus E.Watson, syn of subsp. vestitus

Helianthus debilis is a species of sunflower known by the common names cucumberleaf sunflower, beach sunflower, weak sunflower,[2] and East Coast dune sunflower.[3] It is native to the United States, where it can be found along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts.[4] It is known elsewhere as an introduced species, such as South Africa, Australia, Taiwan, Slovakia, and Cuba.[5]

This species may be an annual or perennial herb.[4] It is usually perennial but it may last only one season in climates where freezes occur.[6] It can reach a height of 2 meters. The stem grows from a taproot and may grow erect or decumbent.[4] It can also spread along the ground, becoming a dense groundcover.[6] The leaves are usually arranged alternately and are variable in shape and size. The largest are up to 14 centimeters long by 13 wide. The showy inflorescence is a single flower head or an array of two or three heads. There are up to 30 lance-shaped phyllaries each up to 1.7 centimeters long. There are up to 20[4] or 21[7] ray florets, each up to 2.3 centimeters long. They are usually yellow in the wild, but cultivars have been bred to bear whitish,[7] reddish, or orange florets.[6] The center of the head is filled with many red, yellowish,[4] or purplish[7] disc florets. The fruit, a cypsela, is roughly 2 or 3 millimeters long.[4]

There are several subspecies. At one point there were eight.[8] Five are currently recognized.[1][4]

• Helianthus debilis subsp. cucumerifolius - cucumberleaf sunflower. The subspecies with the widest distribution.[5][9]
• Helianthus debilis subsp. debilis - beach sunflower. Endemic to Florida.[10][11]
• Helianthus debilis subsp. silvestris - forest sunflower. Endemic to Texas.[12][13]
• Helianthus debilis subsp. tardiflorus - slow-flowering sunflower. Mississippi to Florida.[14][15] Limited to rare, specialized coastal habitat.[16]
• Helianthus debilis subsp. vestitus - clothed sunflower,[17] hairy beach sunflower.[18] Endemic to Florida.[19] Imperiled; known from about 22 occurrences.[18]

This species grows in several types of coastal habitat, sometimes directly on the beach. It tolerates a moderately saline environment, but not an excessive amount of salt spray or inundation.[20] It is highly drought-tolerant and it will grow in low-nutrient and poor soils, such as alkaline and acidic soils and sand.[6][7] The plant attracts butterflies and birds feed on the fruits.[6]

This plant is used as a garden flower. It is also good for landscaping, especially in poor, dry soils. It is planted on beaches, where it forms a sand-binding groundcover that prevents erosion and stabilizes dunes.[21] It requires supplemental watering only rarely, if ever. It may get "ratty-looking" after the showy flowers have withered.[20] Available cultivars include 'Italian White',[7] 'Flora Sun',[21]'Dazzler', 'Excelsior', and 'Orion'.[6]

Gallery

Dune Sunflowers growing in Miami Beach sand dunes (South Beach)

• 
  Sea Grapes and Dune Sunflowers
• 
  Dune Sunflower Closeup

References

1. The Plant List, Helianthus debilis Nutt.
2. "Helianthus debilis". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
3. Wunderlin, R. P. and B. F. Hansen. 2008. Helianthus debilis. Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants. Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.
4. Helianthus debilis. Flora of North America.
5. "Helianthus debilis subsp. cucumerifolius". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
6. Gilman, E. F. and S. Park-Brown. Helianthus debilis Beach Sunflower. Environmental Horticulture, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. 1999. Revised 2007.
7. Christman, S. Helianthus debilis. Floridata.com. 1999. Updated 2003.
8. Wain, R. P. (1983). Genetic differentiation during speciation in the Helianthus debilis complex. Evolution 37(6) 1119-27.
9. Helianthus debilis ssp. cucumerifolius. Flora of North America.
10. "Helianthus debilis subsp. debilis". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
11. Helianthus debilis ssp. debilis. Flora of North America.
12. "Helianthus debilis subsp. silvestris". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
13. Helianthus debilis ssp. silvestris. Flora of North America.
14. "Helianthus debilis subsp. tardiflorus". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
15. Helianthus debilis ssp. tardiflorus. Flora of North America.
16. Helianthus debilis ssp. tardiflorus. NatureServe.
17. "Helianthus debilis subsp. vestitus". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
18. Helianthus debilis ssp. vestitus. NatureServe.
19. Helianthus debilis ssp. vestitus. Flora of North America.
20. Gann, G. D., et al. 2005-2013. East Coast dune sunflower Helianthus debilis. Natives For Your Neighborhood. The Institute for Regional Conservation. Delray Beach, Florida, USA.
21. Maura, C. and S. Sanders. Helianthus debilis ssp. debilis Plant Fact Sheet. USDA NRCS Brooksville Plant Materials Center. 2002.