Perennial herb to 1.5 m tall. Stems erect, rough. Leaves toothed. Basal leaves ovatelanceolate, to 15 cm long, to 10 cm wide, petiolate. Stem leaves smaller, petiolate. Capitula solitary or a few together, to 10 cm across; summer to autumn. Ray florets reddish purple, greenish at apex. Disk florets orange. Achenes about 3 mm long. Pappus a crown of short scales. [Rudbeckia purpurea L.]

USA

 

E. pallida (Nutt.) Nutt. from central USA is a perennial herb to 1 m tall with entire leaves, solitary capitula and purplish drooping ray florets to 10 cm long.

Source: Lawson, L.; Spencer, R. (2002). Dahlia. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 4. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 3. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.