Maryland State Flower
Black-eyed Susan (common name) Rudbeckia hirta (scientific name) Overview The black-eyed Susan became the Maryland state flower in 1918. While it’s not native to the state, by the late 1800s it was a common wildflower in Maryland fields and along roadsides. Of particular significance are the flower’s colors, which are the same black and gold of the first Lord Baltimore’s coat of arms. A plant can grow up to 3 ft (1 m) tall, but is typically closer to a height of 1–2 ft (.3–.6 m). The flowers are not particularly large, but their bright color and dark center make them quite noticeable. They are similar to daisies with a round center and multiple long, narrow petals, but the black-eyed Susan’s center is raised and forms a rounded cone. The petals are actually eight to 21 deep golden ray flowers around central dark-colored disk florets. The stems and the oval leaves are hairy, and each stem produces one flower. Close-up STATUS Official PHYSICAL DETAILS Duration: Annual, Biennial, Perennial Plant: Oval, hairy leaves with single flowers on a long, branching stalks Mature Height: 1–2 ft (.3–.6 m) Flowering: May through August Flowers: 2–4 in (5–10 cm) across with 8–21 ray flowers around a 1-inch dark brown central cone Flower Color: Deep golden yellow Leaves: 3–5 in (7.5–13 cm) long narrow ovals Fruit/Seed Color: Brown HABITAT Location: Fields and open areas Range: Across the U.S. except Arizona and Nebraska TRIVIA The flower is also sometimes called a gloriosa daisy. Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus named the flowerRudbeckia hirta after two professors teaching at the University of Uppsala, Olav Rudbeck and his son. Native Americans used a tea made from the plant’s roots as medicine for worms, colds, sores, and types of swelling.
	Click to enlarge an image Black-Eyed Susan Patch of Black-Eyed Susans Close-up of Black-Eyed Susan Ready to Flower CLASSIFICATION Kingdom: Plantae Subkingdom: Tracheobionta Superdivision: Spermatophyta Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Subclass: Asteridae Order: Asterales Family: Asteraceae Genus: Rudbeckia Species: R. hirta
	Author: World Trade Press