gether first into a convex form, afterwards becoming conical. Ray
florets lanceolate, sometimes, though not always, bifid at the apex,
drooping and incurved, of a deep peach-blossom-red colour, with
darker stripes of the same hue.
In the specific description the bifurcation of the petals at the apex
is designated as a character—yet it does not always occur. They are
so frequently entire at the apex, or so very slightly notched, as to appear
entire, that the character would not seem to be sufficiently constant
to justify its notice in the specific delineation. I have often found
the petals linear, long and bifurcated, on plants apparently proceeding
from the same roots, which sent forth shoots bearing flowers without
notched petals.
Grows in the mountains from Virginia to Florida, flowering from
June till October. In favourable situations a succession of flowers is
produced, so that the inflorescence continues for a month or five
weeks. Muhlenburg has stated the time of flowering to be June, but
Pursh mentions October. The fact is, it continues, as I have stated, to
bloom from June till October.
This is the fourth species of Rudbeckia figured in this work. It is
one of the most showy of our native plants, and has long been culti-
VOL. II. 23