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

Coreopsis sect. Electra (3) Coreopsis sect. Anathysana (1) Coreopsis sect. Tuckermannia (2) Coreopsis sect. Pugiopappus (3) Coreopsis sect. Leptosyne (3)

Eastern North America

Coreopsis sect. Silphidium (1) Coreopsis sect. Gyrophyllum (syn. Palmatae) (6) Coreopsis sect. Calliopsis (3) Coreopsis sect. Eublepharis (7) Coreopsis sect. Coreopsis (9)

South America

Coreopsis sect. Pseudoagarista (35)

Selected species

See:

Section Anathysana

Coreopsis cyclocarpa S.F.Blake

Section Calliopsis

Coreopsis bicolor

Coreopsis leavenworthii Torr. & A.Gray – Leavenworth's Tickseed

Coreopsis paludosa M.E.Jones

Coreopsis tinctoria Nutt. – Plains Coreopsis

Section Coreopsis

Coreopsis auriculata L. – Lobed Tickseed

Coreopsis basalis (A.Dietr.) S.F.Blake – Goldenmane Tickseed

Coreopsis grandiflora Hogg ex Sweet – Large-flowered Tickseed

Coreopsis intermedia Sherff – Goldenwave Tickseed

Coreopsis lanceolata L. – Lance Coreopsis, Lance-leaf Tickseed

Coreopsis nuecensis A.Heller – Crown Tickseed

Coreopsis nuecensoides E.B.Sm. – Rio Grande Tickseed

Coreopsis pubescens Elliott – Star Tickseed

Coreopsis wrightii (A.Gray) H.M.Parker – Rock Tickseed

Section Electra

Coreopsis cuneifolia Greenm.

Coreopsis mexicana

Coreopsis mutica DC.

Section Eublepharis

Coreopsis floridana E.B.Sm. – Florida Tickseed

Coreopsis gladiata Walter – Coastalplain Tickseed

Coreopsis integrifolia Poir. – Fringeleaf Tickseed

Coreopsis linifolia Nutt. – Texas Tickseed

Coreopsis nudata Nutt. – Georgia Tickseed

Coreopsis rosea Nutt. – Pink Tickseed

Section Gyrophyllum (syn. Palmatae)

Coreopsis delphiniifolia Lam. – Larkspurleaf Tickseed

Coreopsis major Walter – Greater Tickseed

Coreopsis palmata Nutt. – Stiff Tickseed

Coreopsis pulchra F.E.Boynton – Woodland Tickseed

Coreopsis tripteris L. – Tall Tickseed

Coreopsis verticillata L. – Whorled Tickseed

Section Leptosyne

Coreopsis douglasii (DC.) H.M.Hall – Douglas's Tickseed

Coreopsis californica (Nutt.) H.Sharsm. – California Tickseed

Coreopsis stillmanii (A.Gray) S.F.Blake – Stillman's Tickseed

Section Pseudoagarista

South America, 35 species

Coreopsis mcvaughii D.J.Crawford

Coreopsis petrophila A.Gray

Coreopsis petrophiloides B.L.Rob. & Greenm.

Coreopsis rudis (Benth.) Hemsl.

Section Pugiopappus

Coreopsis bigelovii (A.Gray) Voss – Bigelow's Tickseed

Coreopsis calliopsidea (DC.) A.Gray – Leafstem Tickseed

Coreopsis hamiltonii (Elmer) H. Sharsm. – Mount Hamilton Tickseed

Section Silphidium

Coreopsis latifolia Michx. – Broadleaf Tickseed

Section Tuckermannia

Coreopsis gigantea (Kellogg) H.M.Hall – Giant Coreopsis

Coreopsis maritima (Nutt.) Hook.f. – Sea Dahlia