Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale)

Mirror Lake, Rooster Rock State Park, OR, 7/2015.

The big-heads of this aster family member can be dried, powdered and  used as snuff, hence the common name Sneezeweed.  Its late season show of distinctive bright yellow petals (with 3-pointed tips) explains its latin name, autumnal.  The genus refers to Helen of Troy, as the flowers supposedly grew where her tears hit the ground.  Native throughout the U.S. in moist soils below 7000′.

Mirror Lake, Rooster Rock State Park, OR, 7/2015.

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