HELENIUM, BASTARD SUN-FLOWER: A genus of the polygamia superflua order, belonging to the syngenia class of plants; and in the natural method ranking under the 49th order, Composita. The receptacle is naked in the middle; under the radius paleaceous; the pappus consists of five short awns; the calyx is simple and multipartite; the florets of the radius semitribid.
Species. 1. The autumnale, with spear-shaped narrow leaves. 2. The latifolium, with pointed, spear-shaped, fawed leaves.—Both these are natives of North America, where they grow wild in great plenty. They rise to the height of seven or eight feet in good ground. The roots, when large, send up a great number of stalks, which branch toward the top; the upper part of the stalk sustains one yellow flower, shaped like the sun-flower, but much smaller, having long rays, which are jagged pretty deep into four or five segments.
Culture. These plants may be propagated by seeds, or by parting their roots; the latter is generally practiced in this country. The best season to transplant and part the old roots is in October when their leaves are past, or in the beginning of March just before they begin to shoot. They delight in a soil rather moist than dry, provided it is not too strong, or does not hold the wet in winter.