Thin-Leaved Coneflower or Three-Lobed Coneflower, Rudbeckia triloba
Asteraceae or Sunflower Family
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A small sunflower-like plant, 2-5 feet tall, often branching. Flower heads about 1-2 inches wide, with a central button of brown disk flowers and about 8 yellow to orange ray flowers. Leaves not opposite each other on the stem. Upper leaves lance-shaped, but at least some of the lower leaves with 3 lobes. Blooms in summer.
Likes open places, dry to moist. Common in the Park, along Wildwood Drive and the bikeway and around the wetland near Main Street. The three-lobed leaves are the best clue to identification. Shining coneflower (R. fulgida) is similar, but has lower leaves only toothed. Black-eyed Susan (R. hirta) has leaves that are slightly toothed, if at all, and no lobes. It also generally has longer ray flowers and a darker disk. True sunflowers (Helianthus sp.) usually have leaves opposite each other. Late in the season, when the lowest leaves may have died, thin-leaved coneflower may be very hard to tell from other coneflowers. |
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