| Telegraph Weed |
| Heterotheca grandiflora |
| Family: Asteraceae (Aster) |
| Flowers — color: yellow, size: 3/4", type: daisy (compound) |
Telegraph Weed has two styles of blooming depending on its life-phase:
While young, the basal rosette may produce one or more flower stalks during the rainy season. The ray florets are thin and loose with a flaring tip, and have a pronounced stamen. The disk florets are also loose. One photo also shows the tiny white blooms of Cleveland's cryptantha.
Later the mature form produces tall stem with lateral leaves an topped by a loose cluster of yellow daisy-like flowers. Botanists call this cluster a panicle: each branch from the main stem has several blooms on shorter stems. These bloom late in the season, starting in August and possibly continuing to the end of the year. The yellow ray florets are broad and overlap. Their short pistils and stamens surround the tightly-packed yellow disk florets.
Habit:
Telegraph Weed is annual or biennial [living for two seasons]. The plant starts as a rosette of pale-green leaves. The plants and stem are covered with prominent white hairs — the furry feeling and a faint sage odor may deter deer. During the summer season the rosette may produce one or more stems reaching 3' tall in our area. These stem produce great flower displays, then the plant perishes.
This plant grows like a weed in sunny open areas. This pioneer loves gravel and sandy soils and craves bright sunshine. They have moved into my yard and I tolerate some for the flowers they will produce. The short rosettes survive summertime mowing and so become roadside weeds that are often the only blooming wildflowers in the holiday season.