Inula orientalis Lam. - Caucasian Elecampagne

Distribution:
Preston Junction Nature Reserve (SD5426, P Jepson, 2009, det. DP Earl, J Clarke & M Chappell, 2011); hedgerow, Pimlico Road, Clitheroe (SD7443 SJ Wynn, 2010, det. MP Wilcox, 2011).

Habitat:
Old railway bank and a hedgerow closeby to houses.

Comments:
Neophyte, native to Turkey, the Causasus region, India and Pakistan. The plants found in South Lancashire were initially thought to be Inula hookeri to which Inula orientalis is very similar. On the close inspection of the under surface of the leaves of Inula orientalis it can be seen that a proportion of the long pilose hairs are gland tipped hairs and there are numerous sessile, subsessile glands attached to the leaf surface which apparently are not present on the closely related Inula hookeri (per. comm. MP Wilcox).