# upright prairie coneflower

*Ratibida columnifera*

The prominent central column of this flower resembles a high-crowned hat, giving it the popular nickname 'Mexican Hat'.

- **Taxonomy:** Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Asterales › Asteraceae › Ratibida
- **IUCN Red List status:** Least Concern
- **Population trend:** stable
- **Biome:** grassland
- **Habitat:** Dry prairies, plains, roadsides, and waste areas
- **Diet:** Autotrophic (photosynthesis, drawing nutrients and water via a deep taproot)
- **Range:** Great Plains of North America, Southern Canada, Northern Mexico
- **Size:** 30 to 100 cm tall
- **Lifespan:** Perennial (3 to 10 years)
- **Active:** diurnal
- **Threats:** Habitat conversion to agriculture, invasive weeds, and urban development.
- **Safe to approach?:** Completely harmless and safe to approach. You can touch the unique, felt-like seed cone gently. Enjoy taking photos, but avoid harvesting wild plants in nature reserves to preserve local ecosystems.

## About

Ratibida columnifera , commonly known as upright prairie coneflower , rocketflower , Mexican hat , and longhead prairie coneflower , is a perennial species of flowering plant in the genus Ratibida in the family Asteraceae. It is native to much of North America and inhabits prairies, plains, roadsides, and disturbed areas.

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/12a8da92-a02b-460f-b785-309d921c63f6
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/78836
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratibida columnifera
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/7675854/medium.jpg (Meghan Cassidy, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.