Black-eyed Susan

Rudbeckia hirta (common names: Black-eyed Susan, Blackiehead, Brown Daisy, Gloriosa Daisy, Golden Jerusalem, Poorland Daisy) is a flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is an upright annul native to most of North America, and is one of a number of plants with the common name Black-eyed Susan with flowers having dark purplish brown centers.

The plant can reach a height of 1 m. It has alternate, mostly basal leaves 10-18 cm long, covered by coarse hair. It flowers from June to August, with inflorescences measuring 5-8 cm in diameter, with yellow ray florets circling a brown, domed center of disc florets.

The roots but not seedheads of Rudbeckia hirta can be used much like the related Echinacea purpurea. It is an astringent used as in a warm infusion as a wash for sores and swellings. The Ojibwa used it as a poultice for snake bites and to make an infusion for treating colds and worms in children. The plant is diuretic and was used by the Menominee and Potawatomi. Juice from the roots had been used as drops for earaches.

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudbeckia_hirta - 15.06.2010