Coreopsis basalis (A. Dietr.) S.F. Blake

Golden Mane Tickseed; Texas Tickseed

Herb

Annual

Vascular

Golden Mane Tickseed is an introduced annual in the Sunflower family (Asteraceae). It is thought to be native to Texas and adjacent states but there is some debate as to whether it is native further east, especially in Florida. In Alabama it has been found in the southern half of the state. Golden Mane Tickseed occurs in disturbed areas, on roadsides, and in fallow fields. It is a branched, erect herbaceous annual from a tap root. The stems are green in color, ribbed, and nearly glabrous or pubescent with whitish hairs especially at the nodes. Leaves are basal and cauline. The leaves are opposite, petiolate, and simple or pinnately lobed with 3-9 lobes. The lobes vary greatly in width and length from elliptic to lanceolate or linear. Flowers are produced in terminal heads. The heads have 8-12 yellow ray flowers usually with a brownish-red spot at their base. The disc flowers are numerous and reddish-brown. The fruit is a flattened, wingless achene. The achene has corky “bumps” on its surface. Golden Mane Tickseed is widely available as seed. It prefers a sunny site with sandy soil. This species will often reseed in the garden and can become weedy. This species is often used from roadside plantings in Florida and other southern states.—A. Diamond.

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Not Native

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