Inula helenium Elecampane

A robust yellow composite whose inflorecences have conspicuous, narrow ray florets. It is a native of western and central Asia that has been cultivated as a garden plant in Britain at least since the early Middle Ages. It is widespread throughout Britain where it was once a popular cottage garden plant and occurs naturalised as a garden throw-out or relic. Established plants can persist for many years along roadsides, tracks and woodland edges, but usually not very far from gardens or abandoned homesteads. It is found scattered throughout Wales but it has become less common as a naturalised species in recent decades. It is uncommon in West Glamorgan with most records from Gower, but fewer in recent years. Hooker's Fleabane (Inula hookeri) is similar to Elecampane and is sometimes confused with it. The phyllaries of Elecampane are broadly ovate and appressed to the capitulum and its leaves are more ovate in shape (see description of Inula hookeri). The name Elecampane is derived from legends and myths related to Helen of Troy. Mythology has it that the plant sprang up from the ground where Helen's tears fell after she was abducted by Paris. The plant contains large amount of inulin (a polymer of fructose) and significant amounts of a sesquiterpene lactone that has been named helenin and which is reputed to have anti-inflammatory properties.