Gray-headed
Ratibida pinnata
Other Names: Drooping Coneflower, Yellow-headed Coneflower
Description:
The Gray-headed Coneflower is a member of the Composite family. It is a
native, warm season, tall perennial which reaches a height of about 1 m.
Leaf: Alternate leaves are smooth and deeply
dissected into three to seven segments. Lower leaves may have a leaf stalk. The
upper leaves are smaller and may or may not be sessile. The leaves also droop,
but not as dramatically as the petals.
Flower: The flowers have five to ten pale yellow
rays which droop. The gray, cone-shaped disk is about twice as tall as it is
wide and turns brown when the florets of the disk open. It has a scent of anise
when bruised. Several flowers may top the stem. The rays are 2.5 to 7 cm long
and up to nearly 1 cm wide.
Blooming months: June – September
Stem: Grooved and finely haired.
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8-20. |
8-20 |
10-11 |
Discussion:
Among early American uses of this plant were as a tea and also as a toothache
cure. The young plant is very palatable to large animals.
Distribution: Drooping Coneflower is
found in many prairie situations. This species ranges from
Native
or Introduced to
Location:
N41048.677’ W089040.972’
Copyright:
© 2004 Nancy Trainor,
References:
Keller, Carolyn. Prairie Plants of
Ladd, Doug. Tallgrass Prairie Wildflowers, The Nature Conservancy, 1995.
Peterson, Roger Tory. Wildflowers Northeastern/North Central
Mohlenbroch, Robert H., and John W. Voigt. Prairie
Plants of
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