XRudbeckia laciniata - Tall ConeflowerX
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Tall Coneflower -or- Thimbleweed -or- Goldenglow -or- Cutleaf Coneflower -or- Green-headed Coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata), family Asteraceae (Aster/Sunflower)
An imposing looking flower, this is a well recommended plant for the mountain (montane to subalpine) garden. It wants a lot of room since it spreads enthusiastically from stems under the ground. The Lady Bird Johnson website uses the word rampant :). William Weber (Colorado Flora Eastern Slope) calls this species Rudbeckia ampla. It is also known as Rudbeckia laciniata var. ampla. The species is a perennial herb.
USES: This handy species offers itself in several ways to the benefit of humanity - edible, medicinal, and dye. The website North American Ethnobotany has these records of uses by Native Americans: Cherokee - Cooked spring salad eaten to "keep well." Leaves and stems tied together and hung up to dry or sun dried and stored for future use. Tender leaves and stems frozen in early spring. Young shoots and leaves boiled, fried with fat and eaten. Leaves and stems parboiled, rinsed and boiled in hot grease until soft. Leaves and stems cooked alone or with poke, eggs, dock, cornfield creasy or any other greens. Leaves and stems preserved by blanching, then boiling in the "can" with or without salt. San Felipe - Young stems eaten like celery. Chippewa - Compound poultice of blossoms applied to burns. Compound infusion of root taken for indigestion. Compound infusion of root applied to chest and legs of horse as a stimulant. From the website Plants For a Future: A green dye is obtained from the flowers. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer. This plant is reputed to be poisonous to cattle, sheep and pigs.
The USDA Plant Database lists 5 varieties of laciniata: ampla, bipinnata, digitata, heterophylla, laciniata. In Rhode Island the species is threatened. Alternatively, it is listed in the book Weeds of the North Central States.
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Plant location: Found along Hwy 36, approximately 6000' elevation, towards the Rocky Mountain National Park. July 17, 2008. This species pretty much blankets the states of the U.S. and much of Canada. Habitats include low rich woods; wet fields; alluvial thickets.
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Bloom season: July through October.Foliage -
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