Taxonomy: Fam. Compositae// Genus: Helianthus// Species: Helianthus tuberosus L.
Determined according to the botanical keys provided by Hansen in Tutin et al. (1976).
Lifeform: Perennial; hemicryptophyte according to the Raunkiær system.
Distribution: Native to North America – Central and East Canada to USA; introduced in North Africa, parts of Europe and Asia, Australia according to the distribution information provided by the Plants of the World Online portal (Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew). Not native to the Osogovo region – introduced species cultivated as garden plant for its edible tubers and found as an escape.
Habitat: River banks, water channels, near cultivated land and ruderal areas.
Flowering period: Fall: SEP, OCT.
Helianthus tuberosus – habit. Kochani – “Kochanska” River, 29.09.2024. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Helianthus tuberosus – habit. Kochani – “Kochanska” River, 29.09.2024. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Helianthus tuberosus – habit. Kochani – “Kochanska” River, 29.09.2024. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Helianthus tuberosus – flowering stems with capitula. Kochani – “Kochanska” River, 29.09.2024. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Helianthus tuberosus – capitula. Kochani – “Kochanska” River, 29.09.2024. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Helianthus tuberosus – capitula. Kochani – “Kochanska” River, 29.09.2024. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Helianthus tuberosus – capitulum. Kochani – “Kochanska” River, 29.09.2024. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Helianthus tuberosus – capitulum. Kochani – “Kochanska” River, 29.09.2024. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Helianthus tuberosus – tubular florets. Kochani – “Kochanska” River, 29.09.2024. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Helianthus tuberosus – tubular florets. Kochani – “Kochanska” River, 29.09.2024. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Helianthus tuberosus – adaxial side of ligulate florets. Kochani – “Kochanska” River, 29.09.2024. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Helianthus tuberosus – abaxial side of ligulate florets. Kochani – “Kochanska” River, 29.09.2024. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Helianthus tuberosus – involucre. Kochani – “Kochanska” River, 29.09.2024. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Helianthus tuberosus – involucre. Kochani – “Kochanska” River, 29.09.2024. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Helianthus tuberosus – involucre. Kochani – “Kochanska” River, 29.09.2024. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Helianthus tuberosus – peduncle of capitulum. Kochani – “Kochanska” River, 29.09.2024. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Helianthus tuberosus – stem and uppermost leaf. Kochani – “Kochanska” River, 29.09.2024. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Helianthus tuberosus – uppermost leaf. Kochani – “Kochanska” River, 29.09.2024. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Helianthus tuberosus – stem with leaves. Kochani – “Kochanska” River, 29.09.2024. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Helianthus tuberosus – stem with leaves. Kochani – “Kochanska” River, 29.09.2024. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Helianthus tuberosus – stem with leaves. Kochani – “Kochanska” River, 29.09.2024. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Helianthus tuberosus – stems with leaves. Kochani – “Kochanska” River, 29.09.2024. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Helianthus tuberosus – abaxial side of leaf. Kochani – “Kochanska” River, 29.09.2024. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Helianthus tuberosus – abaxial side of leaf. Kochani – “Kochanska” River, 29.09.2024. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Helianthus tuberosus – stem. Kochani – “Kochanska” River, 29.09.2024. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Helianthus tuberosus – stem. Kochani – “Kochanska” River, 29.09.2024. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Helianthus tuberosus – lower part of stem. Kochani – “Kochanska” River, 29.09.2024. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Helianthus tuberosus – roots and tuberous rhizome. Kochani – “Kochanska” River, 29.09.2024. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Helianthus tuberosus – developing tuber. Kochani – “Kochanska” River, 29.09.2024. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Helianthus tuberosus – tuber. Kochani – “Kochanska” River, 29.09.2024. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Helianthus tuberosus – flowering capitulum (left), fruiting capitulum (middle) and spent florets with developing achenes. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
References:
Helianthus L. Hansen, A. in Tutin, T.G., Heywood, V.H., Burges, N.A., Moore, D.M., Valentine, D.H., Walters, S.M. & Webb, D.A. (1976). Flora Europaea. Volume 4: Plantaginaceae to Compositae (and Rubiaceae). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 141 – 142.
