About Rudbeckia amplexicaulis Vahl
Dracopis is a monotypic genus, meaning it contains only one species: Dracopis amplexicaulis, which is commonly called clasping coneflower. This species has the scientific synonym Rudbeckia amplexicaulis Vahl. It is native to North America. It is an annual plant that grows up to 1 meter tall, with stems that are either simple or branched. Its leaves are oval, 5–10 cm (2.0–3.9 in) long and 2–4 cm (0.79–1.57 in) wide. It produces daisy-like flower inflorescences that hold florets ranging in color from yellow to yellowish-purple. This species differs from plants in the genus Rudbeckia, where it was formerly classified, by having chaff that subtends its ray flowers. Clasping coneflower is one of at least four genera in the flowering plant family Asteraceae that are commonly known as coneflowers. The other three coneflower genera are Echinacea, Rudbeckia, and Ratibida. When grown in cultivation in the United Kingdom, this plant has received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
