Wildflower

Outside the greenhouse. The colors are warmer because I found this stem in the shade. This flower is evident everywhere right now … and it will probably be regarded as a weed in most instances. I’d like to determine what this is without appealing to my greenhouse experts. Just as with butterflies and moths last summer, I would like to know if there is a “system” one can use to home in on an identification (without randomly chasing through hundreds — or worse — of photos!).

Initial guess: Senecio aureus (family Asteraceae, the Sunflower family).
Nope, but I was right about the family. The species is “Packera glabella”.
Species page at Phytoimages: http://phytoimages.siu.edu/cgi-bin/dol/dol_terminal.pl?taxon_name=Packera_glabella&rank=binomial

Photo taken outside SIUC Plant Biology Greenhouse, http://www.plantbiology.siu.edu/facilities/plant-biology-facilities/greenhouse/index.php

One year ago (“Walking to my car … *on* campus”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2012-05-01
Two years ago (“Mayday! Mayday!”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2011-05-01

[Rick Schies]

This yellow is magnificent Thom. They are such a beautiful flower.

[Jennifer]

Beautiful shot, love the yellow, it's so cheerful.