Rudbeckia laciniata

Rudbeckia laciniata, commonly called cutleaf coneflower, is a species of flowering plant in the aster family (Asteraceae). It is native to North America, where it is widespread in both Canada and the United States. Its natural habitat is wet sites in flood plains, along stream banks, and in moist forests. It is a robust herbaceous perennial growing up to 3 m (10 ft) tall. It has broadly ovate and somewhat glaucous leaves that are often deeply dissected. The composite flowers are produced in late summer and autumn. The disc flowers are green to yellowish green, while the rays are pale yellow. The specific epithet laciniata refers to the pinnately divided leaves. Up to six varieties of Rudbeckia laciniata are currently recognized. The varieties ampla and heterophylla are considered to be the most distinctive, while the others less so. There is variation in treatment among authors, with the less distinctive varieties sometimes being subsumed into laciniata, and variety ampla sometimes recognized at the species level. The six varieties are: