Rudbeckia laciniata L.
cone flower
Erect, rhizomatous perennial herb. Stems usually glabrous, sometimes sparsely clothed in short hairs, up to 2-(3) m tall. Lower and mid cauline lvs usually glabrous, sometimes moderately clothed in short hairs on lower surface and sparsely hairy on upper surface, petiolate, ovate-triangular, 2-pinnatisect, or 3-foliolate and leaflets 1-pinnatisect; segments ± entire to coarsely and irregularly serrate, (2)-4-16 cm long. Upper cauline lvs similar to lower but becoming shortly petiolate or apetiolate, smaller, and often 3-lobed or not lobed. Capitula c. 8-12 cm diam., in loose cymes. Involucral bracts in 1 row, glabrous, or ciliate to moderately hairy, narrow-lanceolate, subulate, or elliptic and narrowed to base, 8-20 × 3-5 mm. Receptacular scales membranous, with apices densely covered in short hairs. Ray florets 8-numerous, yellow; disc florets numerous, greenish yellow. Achenes brown, glabrous, 3.5-5 mm long; corona indistinct.
N.: Te Kuiti (S. Auckland); S.: near Hanmer (N. Canterbury), Christchurch.
N. America 1968
Damp areas under trees and along rivers.
FL Jan-Mar.
Poisonous (Connor 1977).
Although cone flower is only recorded locally as an escape from cultivation, it has established as large colonies and is likely to persist. Both single and semidouble forms have been collected wild.
