Rudbeckia L.
Annual or perennial herbs. Lvs alternate, simple and entire to 2-pinnatifid, or pinnate. Capitula pedunculate, solitary or in loose cymes. Involucral bracts in 1-3 rows, foliaceous. Receptacle conic; scales present. Outer florets sterile, ligulate, yellow or orange, sometimes with darker markings at base. Inner florets ⚥, tubular. Achenes all similar, narrowed to base, 4-angled but not winged, glabrous; pappus a small corona or 0.
Key
1
Lower and mid cauline lvs 2-pinnatisect, or 3-foliolate and leaflets 1-pinnatisect, glabrous or moderately clothed in short hairs on lower surface and sparsely hairy on upper surface
Lower and mid cauline lvs simple and not lobed, densely clothed in long hairs on both surfaces
15 spp., N. America. Naturalised spp. 2.
R. fulgida Aiton has not been recorded wild but is widely cultivated in N.Z., usually as R. speciosa. It is similar to R. hirta but is fully perennial and has uniformly yellow rays.
