Goldsturm Black-eyed Susan Common Name: Goldsturm Black-eyed Susan Botanical Name: Rudbeckia fugida var. sullivantii ‘Goldsturm’ Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art · Doctrine of Signatures Transcript Read More DOCTRINE OF SIGNATURES TRANSCRIPT NARRATOR: Ethnobotanist Justin Nolan explains the doctrine of signatures, or the way humans have drawn correlations between a plant’s physical appearance and its assumed medicinal purposes, in many forms of traditional and folk medicine. JUSTIN NOLAN: The doctrine of signatures implies that humans recognize visible qualities in plants that lead them to experiment and apply them to human illnesses and ailments, in ways that correspond with their visible morphological features. Related to the doctrine of signatures is the fact that the doe eye, or the deer eye, is the name that Cherokees ascribed to the black-eyed Susan, which of course, as an Asteraceae, has a dark center resembling an animal or a human eye. Well, the same thing I think applies for eyebright, which is a flower that resembles a human eye, whose leaves are used as a wash to cleanse the eyes, and an antiseptic. And so again, we see evidence that people seek patterns of association between a plant’s physical qualities and its potential application in folk medicine. So whether or not this is a good window into a scientific inquiry is up for debate, but I do think it speaks to the logic that drives the way that humans select plants that have the possibility to cure or to heal. Look at the plant, and discern qualities that match human features or parts of the body, then you will locate potentially, a corresponding application. So this is just essentially a very human way of extracting knowledge from the available visual and sensorial cues that surround them in the plant kingdom. Goldsturm Black-eyed Susan Plant family: Asteraceae Location: Art Trail, East Terrace Switchback, North Lawn Trail Growing zone: 3-9 Height: 2-3 in. Spread: 1.5-2 in. Bloom time: April, May, June Bloom description: Yellow-orange ray flowers surround a dark brown disk, hence the common name “Black-eyed Susan.” This long-blooming perennial has become one of the more popular native plants, as it is quite durable in most soil types. Leaf type: Large leafs are dark green and hairy. Garden uses: Best used in a border or wildlife garden. It has a fairly manicured look, so this species may not be the best choice if trying to naturalize a meadow or prairie. ‘Goldsturm’ is a strain discovered in Germany, so its status as a “native” has been up for many debates. Wildlife benefits: This species is a butterfly, moth, and pollinator magnet! This is the most popular strain of Black-eyed Susan sold in the nursery trade, and for good reason. Although its native status may be controversial, this strain attracts numerous beneficial native insects and provides food to our native goldfinches. It self-seeds easily if left to seed.
