This is the seed-head of a 'Green-Headed Coneflower' - botanical name- RUDBECKIA hirta var. Lanceolata. The 'hirta' portion simply means 'hairy'- it has an erect, robust, hairy stem. It is a sunflower-like perennial and the tallest flower in my gardens....close to 10-12' tall.

It forms colonies from long underground rhizomes and I must be ruthless yanking it out every season from places where it unexpectedly pops up. This particular RUDBECKIA is not only invasive but produces and secretes chemicals which prevent growth of competing plants....a phenomenon known as allelopathy.

RUDBECKIA lanceolata develop flower heads that consists of 200 to 300 florets arranged in the form of spiny cone in the center as pictured here. What's interesting is that they start out as small, yellow/green buttons and as the plant matures and the seeds ripen the cones elongate and become brownish. In this photo you can see that most of the little pockets are empty, having already dropped their seeds. Only a few at the lower edge still contain the brown seeds.