NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Thin-leaved Coneflower 



Rudbeckia triloba Linnaeus 



Plate 253 



Similar in appearance to the Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia 

 hirta), but more branched and with smaller heads of flowers. It is 

 rather tall, 2 to 5 feet high with rough and pubescent stems but scarcely 

 hairy. Leaves thin, rough on both surfaces, bright green and the lower 

 at least three-lobed, 2 to 4 inches long, one-half to i inch wide. Heads 

 about 2 inches broad, numerous, in terminal corymbs. Ray flowers bright 

 yellow, sometimes orange or orange-purple at the base, eight to twelve in 

 number; disk flowers purple, forming an ovoid center to the head, about 

 one-half of an inch broad. Bracts of the involucres linear, pubescent and 

 reflexed. 



In moist soil, southern New York to Georgia, west to Michigan, Minne- 

 sota, Missouri, Kansas and Louisiana. Flowering from June to October. 



Black-eyed Susan; Yellow Daisy 



Rudbeckia hirta Linnaeus 



Plate 254 



A coarse, native biennial, or sometimes annual, with rough, hairy 

 stems and foliage, the stems rather bristly-hairy, i to 3 feet high. Leaves 

 thick, sparingly toothed or entire, oblong to lanceolate, the lower ones 

 petioled, 2 to 7 inches long, one-half to 2 inches wide, the upper leaves 

 sessile and narrower than the lower ones. Heads of flowers very showy, 

 usually few or several borne on stout terminal and axillary stalks, each 

 head \\ to 3 inches broad. Disk flowers purple-brown, forming a cone- 

 shaped center to the head. Ray flowers ten to twenty in number, orange- 

 yellow in color, or sometimes purplish brown or reddish at the base. Bracts 

 of the involucres hairy, spreading or reflexed, much shorter than the ray 

 flowers. 



Native of the plains and prairies of the western states, now well estab- 



