Helenium virginicum

Helenium virginicum is a rare species of flowering plant in the aster family known by the common name Virginia sneezeweed. It occurs in the United States, where it has a disjunct distribution; it is known only from Virginia and Missouri. It is limited to a specific type of habitat and it is threatened by modification of this habitat. It was federally listed as a threatened species of the United States in 1998. At the time the plant received federal protection it was known from 28 populations in two Virginia counties. Soon after, a population of similar plants was found in Missouri and by genetic analysis were confirmed to be of the same species. Searches turned up a total of 44 occurrences in six counties in the Ozark Highlands of Missouri. This disjunct distribution was probably caused by the cleaving of the species' geographical range during Pleistocene glaciation, leaving two relict ranges. Helenium virginicumis similar to and often mistaken for Helenium autumnale, the common sneez......read more on Wikipedia.