Ratibida pinnata
prairie coneflower, pinnate prairie coneflower, grayhead prairie coneflower, grayhead mexican hat, yellow coneflower, grayhead coneflower
Family
Asteraceae
Leaf Arrangement
alternate
Leaf Attachment
petiolate
Leaf Margin
entire, dentate, pinnatifid
Leaf Type
simple
Growth Form
forb
Flower Color
yellow
Flower Month
April - September
Height (meters)
0.2 - 1.2
Milky Sap
No
Armed/Unarmed
Unarmed
Origin
native
Lifespan
perennial
Growing Season
Warm season
Prairie Coefficient of Conservatism
10
Cultural Information
Seeds are reported to benefit from cold/moist or cold/dry stratification (Steffen 1979).
Natural History
Found only once on a Louisiana prairie remnant at Florence Hunting Club. Because this remnant is isolated it is unlikely that R. pinnata was adventive. It has been collected in several calcareous prairies in the northern part of the state.
Habitat
Disturbed prairies, openings in wooded areas, calcereous soils, old fields, often on limestone.