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Yellow and Orange Wildflower Gallery

Daisy-like Flowers - Cone & Ball Shapes

                 

Asteraceae (Compositae) - Sunflower family
Mexican Hat (Upright Prairie Coneflower, Long-headed Coneflower) Ratibida columnifera (Ratibida columnaris)
This plant's species name has changed from the one mentioned in most guide books.  The main plant web sites have changed the common name also, but I will stay with the least boring one, the one I know.
Flower head 1"-2" long with 5 droopy petals 1/2"-1" long. Petals can be solid yellow or have dark red centers. Leaves are very thin and stay low on plant. Flowers are on bare stems 1-2 feet high. The green flower spike becomes covered with mini-yellow-star flowers that turn brown. These will bloom even in drought, but the petals and spikes are smaller.
Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, May 2002, April-August 2004
(Native of Texas - Taylor, Shackelford, Callahan, Coleman, Brown, Coke)

Similar Species

Green Prairie Coneflower Ratibida tagetes
Flower head round to egg shaped, purple. Ray petals are short ovals. Thread-like leaves.
(Native of Texas - Nolan)

              

Asteraceae (Compositae) - Sunflower family
Rayless Green-thread (Hopi Tea Greenthread) Thelesperma megapotamicum
Flower head about 1/2" tall. No ray petals. Stick-like plant 1-3 feet tall. Grass-like leaves at base.
Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, May 2004, June 2005
(Native of Texas - Taylor, etc.)
See also   Thelesperma     Chalk Hill Hymenopappus

Similar Species

Longstalk Greenthread Thelesperma longipes
Flower head smaller and scruffier.
(Native of Texas - Taylor, Nolan, Coke)

              

Asteraceae (Compositae) - Sunflower family
Pretty Sneezeweed Helenium elegans
Small reddish or yellowish center is 1/4" wide ball. Tiny drooping petals are yellow (sometimes with red near ball) with 3 lobes. Plant grows 3-4 feet tall next to pond in full sun. It is the stems that are interesting in this plant. They have 3 phalanges that run lengthwise. Two fold out to become a leaf. At this node the phalanges restart and sometimes a branch. The dried leaves and flower heads makes people sneeze. Cattle do not eat, if they do it is toxic.
Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, May 2004, May 2005
(Native of Texas - Taylor, Brown, Runnels)

Similar Species

Smallhead Sneezeweed Helenium microcephalum
As the green buds open, the narrow bracts reveals the uniform dotted head. Round to egg-shaped head, green to brown. Tiny yellow ray petals.
(Native of Texas - Taylor, Shackelford, Callahan, Coleman, Brown, Runnels, Coke)