26. Coreopsis gladiata Walter, Fl. Carol. 215. 1788.
Coreopsis falcata F. E. Boynton; C. floridana E. B. Smith; C. gladiata var. linifolia (Nuttall) Cronquist; C. helianthoides Beadle; C. linifolia Nuttall; C. longifolia Small
Perennials, 30–70 cm. Internodes (± mid stem) (1–)8–12+ cm. Leaves basal and cauline; usually alternate, sometimes opposite and alternate or all opposite; petioles 1–10(–15+) cm, not ciliate; blades elliptic or lanceolate to ± linear, (2–)4–8(–15+) cm × (3–)7–12(–40+) mm, sometimes with 1–2 lateral lobes. Peduncles (1–)4–8(–10+) cm. Calyculi of broadly deltate-ovate to lance-ovate or lance-linear bractlets 2–6+ mm. Phyllaries lance-ovate to lanceolate, 6–9(–12) mm. Ray laminae yellow, (12–)15–20+ mm. Disc florets 40–80+; corollas purplish or purple-tipped, 2.8–4.8 mm. Cypselae ± obovate to oblong, 3–4 mm, winged, wings 0.2–0.4+ mm wide, ± pectinate; pappi of 2 subulate scales 0.5–1+ mm. 2n = 26.
Flowering ± year round, mostly Sep–Oct. Peaty bogs, swamps, depressions, in pine barrens; 10–100+ m; Ala., Ark., Fla., Ga., La., Miss., N.C., S.C., Tex., Va.
As here circumscribed, Coreopsis gladiata includes plants that others (without agreement among themselves) have treated as distinct species and/or varieties: C. falcata (leaves mostly basal and/or proximal, alternate, blades mostly lance-linear to linear, often 1–2 with 1–2 lateral lobes, faces not dotted; outer phyllaries lance-ovate to lance-linear; Ga., N.C., S.C.); C. floridana (leaves mostly basal and/or proximal, alternate, blades mostly lance-linear to linear, not lobed, not dotted; outer phyllaries broadly deltate-ovate; Fla.), C. helianthoides (leaves mostly cauline, alternate, blades mostly elliptic to lanceolate, not lobed, faces not dotted; outer phyllaries lance-ovate to lance-linear; Ala., Fla., Ga., La., Miss., N.C., S.C.), and C. linifolia (leaves basal and cauline or mostly cauline, alternate or opposite or both, blades mostly lance-linear to linear, seldom lobed, faces bearing dark or translucent dots; outer phyllaries lance-ovate to lance-linear; Ala., Fla., Ga., La., Miss., N.C., S.C., Tex., Va.).