Coreopsis basalis
Family: Asteraceae
Plant Description: Annual, usually 20-30 cm high, with 1- or 2-pinnately compound leaves, opposite, and hairy stems. Heads solitary, 3.5-5 cm wide, disks red-brown, rays orange-yellow with brownish red base.
Field Identification: Hairy stems along with the reddish color on the disk flowers separate this species from the other Coreopsis.
Plant Trivia: The name of the genus comes from the Greek “koris” (bug). The achenes resemble a tick or bug.
Occurrence: Frequent on deeper sands in prairies and openings.
Bloom Period: April-July
Plant Use:
Key to the Genus Coreopsis:
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Phyllaries of outer row 1-2 mm long…………………..C. tinctoria
Phyllaries of outer row 4-9 mm long………………………………………2
2. Disk flowers red-brown………………………………………………C.basalis
Disk flowers yellow or light brown……………………………………………3
3. Inner phyllaries glabrous…………………………………….C. necessaires
Inner phyllaries ciliate with bristles……………………..C. nuecensis
