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Short-ray prairie-coneflower

Ratibida tagetes (E. James) Barnhart

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Short-ray prairie-coneflower
Short-ray prairie-coneflower
Short-ray prairie-coneflower

Morphology

Stem
Much-branched from base.
Leaves
Basal and cauline, alternate; petiole present; blade .8 to 3 inches long, .08 to 2.6 inches wide inch wide, proximal narrowly oblanceolate, pinnately lobed, cauline 1-2-pinnatifid, lobes 2-7, linear, .02 to .08 inch wide ultimate margins entire.
Inflorescence
Heads 1-8, radiate, solitary or in corymb-like arrays. Peduncles .2 to 1.6 inches. Phyllaries 10-12 in 2 series, distinct. Receptacles spheric to oblong or ellipsoid, .35 to .5 inch by .24 to .5 inch.
Flower
Ray florets usually 5-10, sometimes 0; corolla usually reddish brown, sometimes yellow, .12 to .4 inch, sometimes absent. Disk florets 50-200; corolla green or purplish brown, spreading, lobes 5.
Fruit
Achenes black, linear-oblong, .08 to .12 long, .05 to .08 inch wide, glabrous or ciliate distally; pappus a crown of thick, rounded teeth.

Ecology

Habitat
Rocky to sandy mixed-grass and shortgrass prairies.
Distribution
West 2/3 of Kansas.

Additional Notes

Comments

The Navajo took an infusion of leaves for stomachaches, coughs, and fevers.

Quick Facts
Plant Type
Wildflower
Family
Asteraceae - Sunflower Family
Life Span
Perennial
Height
6-20 inches
Origin
Native
Last Updated
2014-12-07
Color Groups
Pink, Red & Orange Wildflowers
Yellow Wildflowers
Flowering Period
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Blooms: May, June, July, August