Prairie Coneflower: Ratibida columnifera: Asteraceae
Prairie Coneflower © RSWacha, 1998
Description:
Flowering heads are cone-like and cylindrical, with from 3 to 7 conspicuous yellow ray-flowers, radiating downwardly from the base. A small band of brownish to yellow disc-flowers surrounds the cylindrical head, immediately above the ray flowers. Stems are typically branched. Leaves are deeply lobed, to the point of being pinnately compound, and attach individually to the stem. Leaflets (or lobes) are many (about 7-17) and narrowly elongate. Some leaflets are subdivided into 2 or 3 smaller lobes, which, in turn, may have 1 or 2 teeth. The leaves and stem are covered with small inconspicuous hairs. Large leaves, near the base of the plant, may be up to 8 cm long. Leaflets may measure 3 cm in length; most measure less. Occurs in prairies or prairie plantings from June through September. This species differs from R. pinnata in having more leaflets, and a more cylindrical head. Native to N. A.