Inula hookeri Hooker's Fleabane

An attractive, perennial fleabane of garden origin with large, striking yellow heads that have lots of narrow ray florets and a prominent central button of disc florets. It is a native of the Himalaya which occasionally becomes naturalised along roadsides, open woodlands and other open, disturbed areas, perhaps mostly as a throw-out. Once established it can persist for a long time. It is similar to and easily confused with Elecampane (Inula helenium) and differs from it in the long phyllaries which taper from a narrow base to a fine point and spread out from the capitulum (see photo) and the leaves which are lanceolte or narrowly elliptic. It is uncommon in West Glamorgan but a large well established plant which flowers freely in autumn has become well established on the tow path along the Neath Canal near Ynysbwllog in the Vale of Neath.

Neophyte