VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Ratibida columnifera | Upright Prairie Coneflower 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
In a 1-year study in the central Black Hills of South Dakota, upright
prairie coneflower made up 0.4 percent of cattle diets in June but was
not utilized from July through October [50].

Another 1-year study showed that upright prairie coneflower was an
important species in the diets of white-tailed deer in southeastern
Texas from early spring through summer [9].  However, upright prairie
coneflower seedlings in restored native prairie in southeastern
Minnesota were not grazed by white-tailed deer, although seedlings of
other forbs were eaten [19].

Upright prairie coneflower seeds were eaten by wild turkeys in
south-central South Dakota.  In September and October these seeds made
up 1.2 percent of the volume of crop contents and were used by 10
percent of wild turkeys studied [37].


PALATABILITY : 
Prior to heading upright prairie coneflower is palatable to livestock
[33,53].

Upright prairie coneflower palatability is rated poor to fair for cattle
and horses, and fair for sheep [14].


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
Upright prairie coneflower energy value and protein value for livestock
is poor [14].

The food value of upright prairie coneflower is listed as follows [14]:

                                  MT          ND        

	Elk                     poor         ----
        Mule deer               poor         poor
        White-tailed deer       fair         poor
        Pronghorn               ----         poor
	Upland game birds       good         ----
        Small nongame birds     fair         ----
        Small mammals           fair         ----


COVER VALUE : 
The cover value of upright prairie coneflower for wildlife in North
Dakota is fair for mule deer and pronghorn, and poor for white-tailed
deer [14].


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
Upright prairie coneflower is suggested for use on roadsides, park and
recreation areas, and prairie restoration projects where annual
precipitation is from 10 to 30 inches (254-762 mm) [45].  Plant vigor
and seed quality are rated excellent [32].  Upright prairie coneflower
has been established successfully from seed [3,17,42], greenhouse stock
[3], and tissue culture [31].  Research from southeastern Montana,
however, indicates that moisture stress can reduce growth of seedlings.
The potential for for vigorous establishment during extended drought was
rated as low to moderate [18].

Prairie hay harvested from natural grassland in 1978 was used
successfully as a source of upright prairie coneflower seeds in central
North Dakota.  This method was used to establish vegetation in the
Central Great Plains after the drought of the 1930's.  Both recently
harvested and stored hay produced seedlings in greeenhouse tests [42].

Upright prairie coneflower seeds were collected locally in southwestern
Ohio, and raked into the soil of a prairie reclamation site on a sand
and gravel borrow-pit.  The seeds germinated and the plants flowered [10].

Upright prairie coneflower seeds collected in the Badlands of western
North Dakota were grown on raw coal spoil material.  Upright prairie
coneflower had good emergence of seedlings.  Seedlings and greenhouse
transplants showed vigorous growth for 2 years.  Upright prairie
coneflower developed substantially more cover on the plots than did most
of the other species tested [3].

In southeastern Montana, upright prairie coneflower was recommended for
inclusion in seed mixtures for strip mine reclamation.  Seeds germinated
well even under high water stress and with high sodium chloride
concentration in the soil.  Seedling performance was favorable [17].


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
Cheyenne Indians boiled upright prairie coneflower leaves and stems to
make a solution applied externally to draw poison from rattlesnake
bites.  The solution was also applied for relief from poison-ivy
(Toxicodendron spp.) [48].


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Upright prairie coneflower responds variably to grazing.  It often
increases in mixtures with more palatable species, but decreases in
mixed-grass prairies lacking more palatable forbs [53].  On mixed-grass
prairie in east-central South Dakota, upright prairie coneflower
increases when cattle grazing reduces more palatable species [38].

In southwestern Texas, upright prairie coneflower occurred on severely
overgrazed shortgrass pasture [11].  A 1-year study in southeastern
Texas showed no significant difference in upright prairie coneflower
cover between short-duration and continuous grazing pastures [9].

Upright prairie coneflower increased slightly following mechanical brush
removal in west-central Texas [43].

A northeastern Kansas tallgrass prairie containing upright prairie
coneflower was mowed with different schedules on matched plots.  Upright
prairie coneflower canopy cover after mowing was less than 1 percent on
all plots.  Frequency ranged from 0 to 45 percent, varying with soil and
mowing treatment [23].

Upright prairie coneflower seeds can be planted in the fall.  If they
are placed in winter storage for spring planting, they should be
stratified with a cold dry treatment [4].

Related categories for Species: Ratibida columnifera | Upright Prairie Coneflower