Plains coreopsis | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Asterales |
Family: | Asteraceae |
Genus: | Coreopsis |
Species: | C. tinctoria
|
Binomial name | |
Coreopsis tinctoria | |
Synonyms [1] | |
Synonymy
|
Plains coreopsis, garden tickseed, [2] golden tickseed, [3] or calliopsis, Coreopsis tinctoria, is an annual forb. The plant is common in Canada (from Quebec to British Columbia), northeast Mexico ( Coahuila, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas), and much of the United States, especially the Great Plains and Southern states where it is often called "calliopsis". [4] [5] The species is also widely cultivated and naturalized in China. [6]
It often grows in disturbed areas such as roadsides and cultivated fields. [7]
Growing quickly, Coreopsis tinctoria attains heights of 30–100 cm (12–40 in). Its leaves are pinnately-divided, glabrous and tend to thin at the top of the plant where numerous 25–40 mm (1–1+1⁄2 in) flower heads sit atop slender stems. [8]
Flower heads are brilliant yellow with maroon or brown disc florets of various sizes. Flowering typically occurs in mid-summer. The small, slender seeds germinate in fall (overwintering as a low rosette) or early spring. [8] Ray florets have notched tips. Its native habitats include prairie, plains, meadows, pastures, savannas, roadsides, and pond banks. [9] The Latin specific epithet tinctoria refers to its use in dyeing. [10]
Coreopsis tinctoria is pollinated by a wide variety of insects, including long-tongued bees, short-tongued bees, wasps, flies, butterflies and beetles. Coreopsis tinctoria serves as a larval host plant for various insects, such as Synchlora aerata, Tornos scolopacinarius and Calligrapha californica. [11]
The Zuni people traditionally use the blossoms of the tinctoria variety to make a mahogany red dye for yarn, [12] and, until the introduction of coffee by traders, to make a hot beverage. [13] Women also used an infusion of the whole plant of this variety, except for the root, if they desired a female child. [14]
Plains coreopsis is cultivated as an ornamental plant for gardens, and as a native plant for wildlife gardens and natural landscaping. It grows well in many types of soil, but seems to prefer sandy or well-drained loam soils. [15] Although somewhat drought-tolerant, naturally growing plants are usually found in areas with regular rainfall. Preferring full sun, it will also grow in partial shade. [16] Though plains coreopsis is often described as an annual some plants will behave more like biannuals growing larger and blooming more in their second year. [15]
Because of its easy growing habits and the bright, showy flowers of cultivars such as 'Roulette' (tiger stripes of gold on a deep mahogany ground), plains coreopsis is increasingly used for landscape beautification and in flower gardens. [16]
Plains coreopsis | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Asterales |
Family: | Asteraceae |
Genus: | Coreopsis |
Species: | C. tinctoria
|
Binomial name | |
Coreopsis tinctoria | |
Synonyms [1] | |
Synonymy
|
Plains coreopsis, garden tickseed, [2] golden tickseed, [3] or calliopsis, Coreopsis tinctoria, is an annual forb. The plant is common in Canada (from Quebec to British Columbia), northeast Mexico ( Coahuila, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas), and much of the United States, especially the Great Plains and Southern states where it is often called "calliopsis". [4] [5] The species is also widely cultivated and naturalized in China. [6]
It often grows in disturbed areas such as roadsides and cultivated fields. [7]
Growing quickly, Coreopsis tinctoria attains heights of 30–100 cm (12–40 in). Its leaves are pinnately-divided, glabrous and tend to thin at the top of the plant where numerous 25–40 mm (1–1+1⁄2 in) flower heads sit atop slender stems. [8]
Flower heads are brilliant yellow with maroon or brown disc florets of various sizes. Flowering typically occurs in mid-summer. The small, slender seeds germinate in fall (overwintering as a low rosette) or early spring. [8] Ray florets have notched tips. Its native habitats include prairie, plains, meadows, pastures, savannas, roadsides, and pond banks. [9] The Latin specific epithet tinctoria refers to its use in dyeing. [10]
Coreopsis tinctoria is pollinated by a wide variety of insects, including long-tongued bees, short-tongued bees, wasps, flies, butterflies and beetles. Coreopsis tinctoria serves as a larval host plant for various insects, such as Synchlora aerata, Tornos scolopacinarius and Calligrapha californica. [11]
The Zuni people traditionally use the blossoms of the tinctoria variety to make a mahogany red dye for yarn, [12] and, until the introduction of coffee by traders, to make a hot beverage. [13] Women also used an infusion of the whole plant of this variety, except for the root, if they desired a female child. [14]
Plains coreopsis is cultivated as an ornamental plant for gardens, and as a native plant for wildlife gardens and natural landscaping. It grows well in many types of soil, but seems to prefer sandy or well-drained loam soils. [15] Although somewhat drought-tolerant, naturally growing plants are usually found in areas with regular rainfall. Preferring full sun, it will also grow in partial shade. [16] Though plains coreopsis is often described as an annual some plants will behave more like biannuals growing larger and blooming more in their second year. [15]
Because of its easy growing habits and the bright, showy flowers of cultivars such as 'Roulette' (tiger stripes of gold on a deep mahogany ground), plains coreopsis is increasingly used for landscape beautification and in flower gardens. [16]