Coreopsis

Description

They range from 46–120 cm (18–47 in) in height. A Common name for Coreopsis is Tickseed. They have showy flower heads with involucral bracts in two distinct series of eight each, the outer being commonly connate at the base. The flowers are usually yellow with a toothed tip. They are also yellow-and red bicolor. The flat fruits are small and dry and look like bugs. Many of its species are cultivated. The 75 to 80 Coreopsis species are native to North, Central, and South America. They have showy flower heads with involucral bracts in two distinct series of eight each, the outer being commonly connate at the base. The name Coreopsis is derived from the Greek words κόρις (koris), meaning "bedbug," and ὄψις (opsis), meaning "view," referring to the shape of the achene.

Uses

Coreopsis species are used as nector and pollen for insects. The species is known to specifically provide food to caterpillars of some Lepidoptera species including Coleophora acamtopappi. The sunny, summer blooming, daisy-like flowers are popular in gardens to attract butterflies. Both annual and perennials types are grown in the home garden (USDA Hardiness Zone 7a/6b). In this Mid-Atlantic region insects as bees, hover flies, wasps are observed visiting the flowers.

All Coreopsis species were designated the state wildflower of Florida in the United States in 1991.

In the language of flowers, Coreopsis means to be always cheerful, while Coreopsis arkansa stands for love at first sight.

Taxonomy

Coreopsis is a variable genus closely related to Bidens. In fact, neither Coreopsis nor Bidens, as defined in the 20th century, is strictly monophyletic. Coreopsis is best described as paraphyletic. Previously (1936) Coreopsis was classified into 11 sections and 114 species, but the African species were subsequently reclassified as Bidens, leaving the North and South American species under Coreopsis, some 75-80 in all. 45 are in the 11 North American sections, and the remaining 35 are in the South American Section Pseudoagarista. The North American species fall into two broad groups, with 5 sections in Mexico and North America (12 species) and the remaining 5 sections in Eastern North America (26 species).

One group which does seem to be monophyletic consists of temperate species from North America, including five sections of Coreopsis, Bidens coronata and Bidens tripartita, and the genus Thelesperma (five species).

Distribution and Habitat

Native North American coreopsis can be found in two habitats In the wild they can be found growing along roadsides and open fields throughout the Eastern

United States and Canada. In this environment the plant will self-sow. They can grow also in a garden as a border plant or in a container. Here the plant prefers well-drained soil. Remove spent flowers so that the plan does not become weedy. Using the USDA Hardiness Zones, will identify what soil and climate is preferred for different cultivars or species.

Sections

One classification (GRIN) of the genus consists of eleven sections, shown by cladistic relationships with number of species in parenthesis.

Mexico and Western North America

Eastern North America

South America

Selected species

See:

Section Anathysana

Section Calliopsis

Section Coreopsis

Section Electra

Section Eublepharis

Section Gyrophyllum (syn. Palmatae)

Section Leptosyne

Section Pseudoagarista

South America, 35 species

Section Pugiopappus

Section Silphidium

Section Tuckermannia