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Family: Asteraceae (Aster / Sunflower family)
Mid-Atlantic bloom time: July - October
Virginia Sneezeweed is threatened rare (S2/S3) species, found in sinkhole ponds in Virginia and Missouri. According to Federal Register number 59240, Vol. 63, No. 212, 3 November 1998 listed it as threatened and described it as,
"Helenium virginicum stems grow to a height of 4 to 11 decimeters (1.5 to 3.5 feet) above a rosette of basal leaves. Coarse hairs are visible on the basal and lower stem leaves. The basal leaves may be broad in the middle tapering toward the ends, but otherwise may appear oblong. Stem leaves are lance-shaped, and become progressively smaller from the base to the tip of the stem. The stems are winged, the wings being continuous with the base of the stem leaves. The flower ray petals are yellow, and wedge-shaped with three lobes at the ends. The central disk of the flower is nearly ball-shaped.In August 2025, thanks to conservation efforts in Missouri and Virginia, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has recommended removing Virginia Sneezeweed from the federal list of Endangered and Threatened Plants."Helenium virginicum is similar to common sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale), but differs in having a sparsely-leaved stem, larger basal leaves, and longer pappus scales (appendages which crown the ovary or fruit). It is also differentiated by leaf shape, stem and leaf hairs, and habitat requirements."
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4 October 2023
Augusta County, Virginia 
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4 October 2023
Augusta County, Virginia (note 3 lobes on each ray petal) 
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2 September 2025
Augusta County, Virginia 
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4 October 2023
Augusta County, Virginia 
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4 October 2023
Augusta County, Virginia (showing winged stem with sparse leaves) 
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4 October 2023
Augusta County, Virginia (basal leaves with coarse hairs) 
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2 September 2025
Augusta County, Virginia (underside of flowerhead, showing phyllaries) 
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