upright prairie coneflower

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• long-headed coneflower
• prairie coneflower
• red-spike Mexican-hat
• yellow prairie coneflower
• Mexican-hat
• longhead-coneflower
• prairie-coneflower
• redspike Mexican-hat
• thimble-flower
• upright prairie-coneflower
• Mexican hat
• yellow coneflower

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Obeliscaria drummondii
• Lepachys columnaris
• Rudbeckia drummondii
• Ratibida columnifera f. denudata
• Ratibida columnifera var. breviradiata
• Ratibida sulcata
• Ratibida columnifera var. incisa
• Rudbeckia columnaris
• Rudbeckia columnifera
• Ratibida columnifera var. tubularis
• Ratibida columnaris f. denudata
• Obeliscaria pulcherrima
• Ratibida columnaris var. pulcherrima
• Lepachys columnifera var. pulcherrima
• Lepachys pulcherrima
• Obeliscaria columnaris
• Ratibida columnaris
• Ratibida columnifera var. pulcherrima
• Lepachys columnifera f. pulcherrima
• Rudbeckia columnaris var. pulcherrima
• Ratibida columnaris f. pulcherrima
• Ratibida columnifera f. pulcherrima
• Lepachys columnifera
• Ratibida columnifera var. appendiculata

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Ratibida columnifera, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Asterales. Finally, it is a member of the family Asteraceae and the genus Ratibida.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide-ranging geographical distribution across several different continents. In Northern Europe, its presence is specifically noted within Great Britain. Moving to the Malesian region, the species can be found in Jawa. Its reach also extends to Western Canada, where it inhabits the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, and Manitoba. Consequently, the plant thrives in diverse environments ranging from European landscapes to North American and Southeast Asian territories.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Ratibida columnifera is characterized by its distribution across low-lying landscapes, specifically occupying an elevational range that begins at 0 m AMSL and extends up to a maximum of 100 m AMSL. This narrow altitudinal belt suggests that the species is specialized for coastal, lowland, or riparian environments where sea level or near-sea level conditions prevail. Such an ecological niche typically implies an adaptation to humid, tropical, or subtropical climates, where the plant must navigate the specific soil compositions and moisture levels found within these low-elevation zones.

Elevational range max:

100 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Ratibida columnifera is characterized by its status as a perennial species, meaning it persists through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its cycle in a single year. As a perennial, the plant establishes a long-term presence in its environment, often developing robust structural components that allow it to survive dormant periods and re-emerge annually. This extended lifecycle enables the plant to invest more energy into complex growth patterns and reproductive stability over time, contributing to its ability to inhabit specific ecological niches across several years.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Ratibida columnifera is characterized by a growth form categorized as both a herb and a forb, reaching an average plant height of approximately 0.9 m. This species is non-woody in structure and functions as a self-supporting plant, rather than acting as a liana or vine. It is an independent organism, not exhibiting parasitic behavior, and is classified as a terrestrial plant, which also applies to its status regarding epiphytic tendencies.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

0.9 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Ratibida columnifera is characterized by its metabolic processes, specifically utilizing the C3 photosynthetic pathway to facilitate carbon fixation. In this pathway, the plant captures atmospheric carbon dioxide through stomata, where it is directly incorporated into a three-carbon molecule, such as 3-phosphoglycerate, via the enzyme RuBisCO during the Calvin cycle. This metabolic strategy dictates the plant's resource management, influencing its transpiration rates, water-use efficiency, and overall energy production patterns in response to its environmental conditions.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Ratibida columnifera is characterized by a specific seasonal flowering window and the production of minute seeds. The plant's flowering period typically commences in July and concludes in August, though the timing can be variable depending on environmental conditions. Following successful pollination, the plant produces seeds with a highly lightweight profile; the seed mass is minimal, ranging from a minimum of 0.0001 g to a maximum of 0.00101 g, with an average seed mass of approximately 0.000692222333333333 g.

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Aug

Seed mass max:

0.00101 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000692222333333333 g

Seed mass min:

1e-04 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Ratibida columnifera has 2 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include flower, leaf.

Flower

1. Journal of natural products

Leaf

1. Journal of natural products

Chemicals

Ratibida columnifera has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Hispidulin.

Hispidulin

1. Journal of natural products

Activities

Ratibida columnifera has 1 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Cytotoxic.

Cytotoxic

1. Journal of natural products