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Wind Cave National ParkFalse Gromwell Seedling
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Wind Cave National Park
Seed Study - Ratibida columnifera
Ratibida columnifera - Prairie Coneflower, Mexican Hat

NPS Photo

Ratibida columnifera - Prairie Coneflower, Mexican Hat

Species: Ratibida columnifera
Common name: prairie coneflower, Mexican hat

Seedling identification: Cotyledons are small and rounded. When the first true leaf emerges it stands fairly upright from the center of the cotyledons. It's green on the top and gray on the bottom and finely pubescent. Later leaves are irregularly lobed.

 

Ratibida columnifera – prairie coneflower
Average number of good seeds per gram bulk matter: 893
Average number of good seeds per gram cleaned: 1910
Commercial estimates of seeds per gram: 1625
Percent seed: 59
Percent live: 58
Collection dates: August 16, 19, 23, and 30.
Collection effort: 52 grams in 3 person hours
Collection notes: Easy to collect however you’ll get a lot of litter and other flower parts with the seed. Size of the seed was highly variable.
Cleaning notes: Bulk measurement was off the stalks with calyx but no leaves. Clean seed was hard seed with the calyx still attached.
Natural Entrance of Wind Cave  

Did You Know?
Winds caused by changes in barometric pressure are what give Wind Cave its name. These winds have been measured at the cave's walk-in entrance at over 70 mph. The winds at the natural entrance of the cave attracted the attention of Native Americans and early settlers.

Last Updated: September 14, 2007 at 11:50 EST