cutleaf coneflower
Rudbeckia laciniata
Also known as 'sochan,' the young spring leaves of this plant are a traditional, highly valued wild edible green cooked by the Cherokee Nation.
- Scientific name
- Rudbeckia laciniata
- Taxonomy
- Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Asterales › Asteraceae › Rudbeckia
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- wetland
- Habitat
- Riparian zones, floodplains, stream banks, wet meadows, and damp forest edges.
- Diet
- Autotrophic (photosynthesis, absorbing water and minerals from moist soils).
- Range
- North America, Europe (introduced), Asia (introduced)
- Size
- 1 to 3 meters (3 to 10 feet) tall
- Lifespan
- Perennial (individual root systems can persist for decades)
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Wetland destruction, invasive plant competition, and agricultural runoff.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless to touch for most, though sensitive individuals should wear gloves to prevent mild skin irritation. Safe to observe up close. Do not ingest, as it contains compounds toxic to livestock and humans in large quantities.
Rudbeckia laciniata , commonly called cutleaf coneflower , is a species of flowering plant in the aster family (Asteraceae). It is native to North America, where it is widespread in both Canada and the United States. Its natural habitat is wet sites in flood plains, along stream banks, and in moist forests.
Photo: Andrew Skotnicki, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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