Georgetown University Medical Center Department of Physiology and Biophysics >> Complementary and Alternative Medicine
 URBAN HERBS: Medicinal Plants at Georgetown University
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Mexican Hat
Ratibida columnifera

Location
Wildflower garden.

Description
Also known as Prairie coneflower or Thimble-flower, Ratibida columnifera is a drought-tolerant annual to perennial variety identifiable by the black, cone-shaped heads surrounded by drooping, yellow or yellow-red flower petals. The flowers bloom from June to November and grow to 24”-36” in height. The leaves are pinnately compound with uneven division and are very thin, deeply notched, and have a stiff, hairy feel. (USDA 2009)

History
Mexican hat is a native flower of the Midwest plains, but has since been naturalized throughout the U.S. and large parts of Canada and Mexico.

References
Wildflower Center of UT of Austin. http://www.wildflower.org/plants/ (Accessed on July 1, 2009) Search term: Ratibida columnifera.

USDA. http://plants.usda.gov (Accessed July 5, 2009) Search term: Ratibida columnifera.
Disclaimer
Information on this website is for educational purposes only. Many herbs historically used for medicine are considered too toxic to use today; some of these herbs have caused deaths. Do not ingest these herbs based on information on this website. We have not provided sufficient information for the safe medicinal use of any of these herbs, nor sufficient information for treatment of poisoning. All recreational use of these herbs is dangerous.
 Georgetown University Medical Center Department of Physiology and Biophysics >> Complementary and Alternative Medicine