Ratibida columnifera

(Prairie Coneflower)

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Ratibida columnifera, North Lake Rd., FR 411, Las Animas Co.

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Ratibida columnifera, Along CR 12 west of Pawnee Buttes, Weld Co. 8038

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Ratibida columnifera, Along CR 12 west of Pawnee Buttes, Weld Co. 8081

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Ratibida columnifera, North Table Mountain, Jefferson Co. 2777

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Ratibida columnifera, North Table Mountain, Jefferson Co. 2771

Scientific Name Ratibida columnifera USDA PLANTS Symbol RACO3
Common Name Prairie Coneflower ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. 38341
Family Asteraceae (Sunflower) SEINet
Reference
Click Here
Description Life zones and habitat: Plains to Montane (3500 to 9000 ft.); open areas in grasslands, fields, roadsides, woodlands and disturbed sites.
Plant: Bushy, erect perennial; hairy, glandular stems 12 to 40 inches tall.
Leaves: Alternate stem leaves 1 to 6 inches long, deeply pinnately-divided into 4 to 14 linear to narrowly ovate lobes; lobes entire or further divided into 3; basal leaves petiolate, often withering at maturity.
Inflorescence: Composite flower heads with 4 to 12 drooping rays, yellow or yellow and red-brown; central green column protrudes 1/2 to 2 inches above the petals with many (20 to 400) disk florets, greenish above to purplish below.
Bloom Period: June to October.
References: "Flora of Colorado" by Jennifer Ackerfield and SEINet.
BONAP Distribution Map

Map Color Key
Colorado Status:
Native

© Tom Lebsack 2024

Banner photo: Castilleja rhexifolia and a brewing storm over the San Juan Mountains