Verbesina helianthoides, aka Yellow Crownbeard and Yellow Wingstem, is an Illinois wildflower found in prairies, open woodlands, and savannas, and near streams. It's a wildlife resource as its seeds are consumed by Bobtail Quail, songbirds, and small mammals.
6 to 15 yellow petal-like ray flowers surround a yellow disc making this a relatively large wildflower for it's 3.5-foot plant height. It blooms in June and July. Leaves up to 6 inches in length are alternate, toothed, and hairy (coarse on the top, soft underneath). Flaps of leaf tissue run down the stem and are the source of one of its common names: "Wingstem."

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