Rudbeckia hirta

           
Black-eyed Susan

Lower Leaf Top

Max Lake
Turtle Mountain Provincial Park, Manitoba
29-July-2004

Note that the key to the genera in Budd's Flora describes the receptacles as convex, not flat.  However, the key in Flora of Alberta describes them as conic or columnar, not flat or convex.  Flora of the Great Plains describes them as hemispheric or columnar.

Note that the key to the genera in Flora of Alberta requires that the involucral bracts be in one or more series but all of the same nature; NOT in 2 distinct, dissimilar series.  However, the bracts in this species are in about two series and irregular in size, with the inner bracts generally smaller than the outer.

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Hirta:  Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora leading to this species.  
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leaves (including lower ones) NOT lobed, NOT divided

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disk of flower head dark brown; NOT greenish yellow

 
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Rudbeckia: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this genus. 
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plants perennial

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plants NOT with a woody caudex

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juice watery; NOT milky

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plants more or less leafy-stemmed (although the leaves may be confined to the lower part of the stem); NOT scapose or scapiform with cauline leaves none or few and reduced to mere bracts

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all leaves (including lower ones) alternate

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leaves NOT linear

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leaves NOT divided into narrow segments

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flower heads 5 cm or wider across; NOT 25 mm or less

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involucre NOT glandular-glutinous

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receptacle with chaffy scales between florets; NOT naked, NOT merely bristly

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both tubular and ray florets present

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ray florets neutral, sterile; NOT female; NOT perfect

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rays conspicuous

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rays NOT subtended by receptacular bracts

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rays yellow (sometimes marked with purple or reddish brown at base); NOT orange, NOT white to pink, NOT purple, NOT blue

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stamens united to form a tube around the pistil

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achenes 4-sided; NOT flattened laterally

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achenes marginless

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pappus absent, or present merely as a short toothed or irregular crown; NOT composed of scales, bristles, barbs, or hairs