Inula helenium
1. Inula helenium L. (SE-Eur.) – A rather rare, locally naturalised but probably decreasing escape from cultivation. Known at least since the beginning of the 19th century but probably much longer. Formerly much grown, especially for medicinal purposes (also as an ornamental). Naturalised populations are mostly located in Wallonia (well-documented for instance from Géronsart, Malonne, Marneffe, Nessonvaux, Theux, Verlée,…). Possibly gone by now at many of its former localities. Recent, reliable records are available, for instance, from Rekkem (talus slope of river Leie; 2010). Inula helenium is usually found in damp meadows and slopes, ditches, road verges or waste land.
Inula helenium is probably widely confused with I. racemosa. In Belgium it is also mistaken for Telekia speciosa. The latter is by far the commonest and is easily distinguished by the presence of receptacular scales, outer involucral bracts that are narrower and more acute at apex, its less tomentose leaves,…
Several closely related species are at present possibly more popular in cultivation than genuine Inula helenium. In addition to Inula racemosa (see below) one should look for I. macrocephala Boiss. et Kotschy ex Boiss. (syn.: I. helenium var. macrocephala (Boiss. et Kotschy) Parsa) and I. magnifica Lipski. Both species have inflorescences with only 2-3(-4) flowers that are ca. 9-15 cm across. See Jäger & al. (2008) for details. At least the latter has been recorded as an escape in Germany.
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Selected literature:
Ertz D. (1996) L'aunée médicinale, Inula helenium dans la Réserve Naturelle du Rocheux, à Theux. Rev. Verviétoise Hist. Nat. 53(3): 51-54.
Jäger E.J., Ebel F., Hanelt P. & Müller G. (eds.) (2008) Rothmaler Band 5. Exkursionsflora von Deutschland. Krautige Zier- und Nutzpflanzen. Springer Verlag, Berlin: 880 p.
Lange U. (2014) Zwei bemerkenswerte Arten im Naturraum Hohe Rhön: Telekia speciosa und Inula helenium. Hess. Flor. Briefe 62(1): 1-3.
Walter E. (1983) Zur Verbreitung des Echten Alant (Inula helenium L.) in Oberfranken. Ber. Naturforsch. Gesel. Bamberg 58: 9-21.