Ratibida columnifera (Prairie Coneflower) - photos and description
General: Perennials with one to many stems from the
caudex, stems branching. Foliage strigose, light green to greyish green
in colour.
A mature plant with many flowering stems can be very showy
in a garden.
Flowers: Flowers on long peduncles, sepals reflexed up to 3 cm long. The central disk is cylindrical in shape up to 4 cm long. The ray florets yellow or rarely brownish-red.
Leaves: Leaves alternate, pinnate, with 5 to 7 leaflets, terminal leaflet largest and may have a few irregular teeth. Leaf highlighted in photo above was 4 cm long.
Height: Height listed in Budd's Flora to 70 cm.
Habitat: Dry prairie.
Abundance: Common.
Origin: Native.
When and where photographed: The above photos were taken July 21st, prairie near the Souris River, about 200 km southeast of Regina, SK, and August 10th slopes of a steep ravine, Cypress Hills, 450 km south west of our home in Regina, SK.