Species

Inula helenium

Etymology

Inula: Believed to be a corruption of helenium, Inula helenium (Elecampane) being the Inula campana of medieval Latin (Johnson and Smith, 1986).
helenium: Named after the genus Helenium which it resembles. Helenium is possibly named after Helen of Troy because of of a myth describing these flowers springing up from her tears.

Common Name(s)

elecampane

Authority

Inula helenium L.

Family

Asteraceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Exotic

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Herbs - Composites

Flowering

November, December, January

Year Naturalised

1958

Origin

W. and C. Asia

References and further reading

Johnson, A. T. and Smith, H. A (1986). Plant Names Simplified: Their pronunciation, derivation and meaning. Landsman Bookshop Ltd: Buckenhill, UK.

This page last updated on 3 Jun 2014