The temperatures dove into the low teens last night, and I had to be cautious of numerous icy patches along the highway this morning. I found myself feeling reminiscent of summer wildflowers, and thought maybe you would be too.
So – here’s a photo of a wildflower, taken on August 30, 2014 along the Central Platte River in Nebraska. Can you name it? I’ll give you a couple hints in the comments section below, and then after someone guesses correctly (and they will – a number of botanists follow this blog) I’ll confirm their answer in the comments section as well.
If you want to guess, but don’t see a comments section, click on the title of this post to open it in your web browser – then you can scroll to the bottom of the post to find the comments.
The Prairie Ecologist 
The photo was taken on the edge of a prairie wetland.
The common name of the flower misrepresents people’s reaction to it.
Helenium autumnale
Achoo!
Sneezeweed?
Helenium autumnale, sneezeweed
agree with others, SNEEZEWEED
Yessir, you’ve got to get up pretty early to fool you smart people. And you’ve got to be REALLY quick on the draw to get your guess in first!! Nice job, everyone – it is, indeed, Helenium autumnale, or common sneezeweed. The characteristic winged stems don’t show up in the photo, but you apparently didn’t need to see them anyway.
Helenium
Beautiful flower – not knowing the name, I am looking forward to learning if all the above are correct. Once again, great photography, Chris
Thank you for the post Chris. It is good to know what this flower is called. :)
Chris stop bringing up allergy issues for me when its 5° and snowing out……….cruel man!
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Sneezweed- Helenium autumnale
The name sneezeweed does not, in this case, have anything to do with allergies, but with the fact that this plant, ground into “snuff”, makes one sneeze, and this can sometimes happen when one handles or walks through a patch of them. The pollen however, (since this is an insect-pollinated plant) does not become airborne, and cannot cause inhalation allergies or “hayfever”, as does that of another plant that flowers at the same season, shedding its pollen to the wind as it does so, namely ragweed. Goldenrods are another group of plants wrongfully accused of the sins of their wind-pollinated cousin, ragweed.
Great context, James – thanks!
Well, I wouldn’t have known the name, but I’ll make one up just for the fun of it- how about -Amarillo del Sol
however, that doesn’t capture the textured center! Hmmm, I’ll have to keep thinking.