Wild Flowers East of the Rockies 369 



BLACK-EYED SUSAN; YELLOW DAISY; CONE 

 FLOWER (Rudbeckia hirta) is a beautiful, large- 

 flowered, tough-stemmed species that is commonly 

 found in dry fields and pastures throughout the East, 

 although it is, by nativity, a western species. 



The stem is hairy, rough, very tough and grows 

 from 1 to 3 feet in height; usually it is simple but 

 sometimes tufted, that is two or more stems may pro- 

 ceed from a single root. Single, large flowers are 

 borne at the summit of each stem. 



The involucre is composed of two rows of leaf-like 

 bracts that spread as the flower opens, the outer ones 

 extending almost as widely as the rays. The conical, 

 dark purple center is composed of long, tubular flor- 

 ets that ripen in successive circles about the cone, 

 making a fringe of yellow pollen on its surface. The 

 orange-yellow rays are neutral, with neither stamens 

 nor pistils. They have their uses, however, for they 

 present a flaming advertisement to all passing bees 

 and butterflies, of the stores of nectar and pollen to 

 be reaped from the florets at the center. The tubes 

 are long and the nectar is seated at the bottom, so 

 it is only insects with long, slender tongues that are 

 enabled to taste of the sweets. 



The leaves, scattered alternately along the stem, 

 are also stiff and hairy; they have three prominent 

 ribs. The upper ones are lanceolate and seated on 

 the stem, the lower ones are broader towards the tip, 

 rather spatulate-shaped. The plant stem is so rigid 

 and tough that it is difficult to pick the flowers with- 

 out pulling up the entire stem. This should be care- 

 fully avoided, for the roots are perennial and plants 

 will spring up year after year if they are undisturbed. 



