GreyHeadedConeflower

Grey-Headed Coneflower (Ritibida Pinnata)

The Grey-Headed Coneflower grows up to four feet high. It can be found in The North American Plains. It is also commonly found in Iowa prairies. In the summer, the conflower has a grey head and yellow drooping pedals. In the fall, its head turns brown as the pedals fall off. I believe that I have identified this picture as the the Grey-headed Coneflower. I have come to the conclusion that this flower can be found at the Ames High Prairie because it can be found in Iowa prairies. Also, in the picture I have provided you can see that the pedals have fallen off leaving a brown head indicating that it is The Grey-Headed Coneflower (Ritibida Pinnata).

The coneflower is a perennial. It is most active during the spring and summer. It also has a slow regrowth rate. Its seeds are brown and fall after its pedals are gone and the head of the plant turns brown.

Do not get the Grey-headed coneflower confused with the sweet coneflower ( //Rudbeckia// //subtomentosa)//. Both can be found in Iowa prairies. They look very similar except the sweet coneflower has upright pedals while the Grey-headed Coneflower has droopy pedals. Picture found on usda site listed below.

Kingdom - Plantae Subkingdom - Tracheobionta Superdivision - Spermatophyta Division - Magnoliophyta Class - Magnoliopsida Subclass - Asteridae Order - Asterales Family - Asteraceae Genus - Ratibida Raf. Species Ratibida pinnata (Vent.) - Barnhart

Wildflower Information site [|http://www.wildflowerinformation.org]

USDA site [|http://www.plants.usda.gov/]