Rudbeckia is a plant genus in the Asteraceae or composite family. Rudbeckia flowers feature a prominent, raised central disc in black, brown shades of green, and in-between tones, giving rise to their familiar common names of coneflowers and black-eyed-susans. All are native to North America, and many species are cultivated in gardens for their showy yellow or gold flower heads that bloom in mid to late summer.
Rudbeckia is one of at least four genera within the flowering plant family Asteraceae whose members are commonly known as coneflowers; the others are Echinacea, Dracopis, and Ratibida.
DRACOPIS - clasping coneflower
ECHINACEA - coneflower
. RATIBIDA - prairie coneflowers or Mexican hat
. RUDBECKIA - black-eyed Susans
Rudbeckia species are eaten by the caterpillars of some Lepidoptera species including cabbage moths and dot moths.
Giant Coneflower (Rudbeckia Maxima)
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| Giant Coneflower (Rudbeckia Maxima) |
The species are herbaceous, mostly perennial plants (some annual or biennial) growing to 0.5–3.0 m tall, with simple or branched stems. The leaves are spirally arranged, entire to deeply lobed, and 5–25 cm long. The flowers are produced in daisy-like inflorescences, with yellow or orange florets arranged in a prominent, cone-shaped head; "cone-shaped" because the ray florets tend to point out and down (are decumbent) as the flower head opens.
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GOLDSTURM BLACK-EYED SUSAN, ORANGE CONEFLOWER RUDBECKIA FULGIDA SULLIVANTII 'GOLDSTURMVERBENA BONARIENSIS FINESSE (purple flower) |
References, Bibliography, Sources, Problems, Microscopic botanical identification, Keys
Manson, Christopher, Mollie Ridout, and Stephen Heaver. Black-eyed Susan, Rudbeckia Hirta. , 2004. Print
Picton, Paul, and Helen Picton. The Plant Lover's Guide to Asters. , 2015. Print.
Microscopy, microscopic botanical details LINK
Problems with your Rudbeckia or Echinecea? LINK
ITIS Integrated Taxonomy Information System LINK
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