Grayhead Prairie Coneflower

Flowering heads are strongly cone-shaped, with from 5 to 10 yellow, drooping ray-flowers radiating outwardly from the base of the cone. Disc flowers form a narrow to broad, brownish band, around the cone, immediately above the ray flowers. The leaves are deeply lobed, to the point of being pinnately compound, and occur individually on the stem. The leaflets (or lobes) are narrow and elongate. Leaves near the base of the stem may have from 7 to 9 leaflets, and those near the top, fewer (3 to 5). Simple leaves, having one blade, may occur below the flowering head. Leaflet edges have from one to several conspicuous teeth, but teeth are absent from some. Stems may be branched, with each branch bearing a flowering head at the terminal end. Large leaves are 18 cm or more in length. Stems and leaves are covered with fine hairs. Found on native and planted prairies during June and July. Native to N. A.