The genus name Inula is of uncertain origin, and was already in use by the Romans. The Latin phrase inula campana (field inula) gave rise to the English elecampane whose scientific name is Inula helenium. The plant's specific name, helenium, derives from Helen of Troy; elecampane is said to have sprung up from where her tears fell.1
The following species are recognised in the genus Inula:2
Inula species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including case-bearers of the genus Coleophora, such as C. conyzae (recorded on I. conyzae), C. follicularis, C. inulae, and C. troglodytella.
Melderis, A. (2007). A Handbook of British Flowering Plants. READ BOOKS. p. 271. ISBN 978-1-4067-6632-5. Retrieved 2009-04-13. 978-1-4067-6632-5 ↩
"Inula L. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2022-07-03. http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:329837-2 ↩