Collected on February 17, 1918, this specimen was found in Palm Beach, Florida. Helianthus debilis (also known as beach sunflower) is native to the coastal United States. Most Helianthus species are native to North
America, including the well-known common sunflower (Helianthus annuus), which was domesticated in the southeastern United States by Native Americans over 4,000 years ago.
Botanists at Carnegie Museum of Natural History share pieces of the herbarium’s historical hidden collection on the dates they were discovered or collected. Check back for more!