Rudbeckia fulgida var. spathulata

Stems glabrous or sparsely strigose (hairs spreading). Leaves: basal blades mostly narrowly oblanceolate, 0.5-2 cm wide, lengths to 2 times widths, bases attenuate, margins entire, serrate or dentate, faces sparsely strigose; cauline usually petiolate, rarely sessile, blades oblanceolate to broadly spatulate or pandurate, notably smaller distally, bases attenuate, margins entire or serrate, faces moderately hairy. Phyllaries spreading to reflexed, 0.5-1 × 0.2-0.5 cm, pilose abaxially, glabrous adaxially. Receptacles 10-14 mm diam.; palea margins ciliate, faces glabrous. Ray florets 10-16; laminae 15-25 mm.

Flowering late summer-fall. Wet woodlands, meadows, and clearings; 30-200 m; Ala., Fla., Ga., N.C., S.C., Tenn., Va., W.Va.