Black-eyed Susan is a member of the Aster (Asteraceae) family. The plants can grow up to 3 1/2 feet tall but are typically 1 to 2 feet tall and have bristly-hairy leaves and stems. The leaves are alternate, sometimes toothed, widest at the middle and tapering to pointed tips. Parallel veins run along the length of each leaf. Flower heads are single at the top of each stem branch, with each head about 2 to 3 inches wide and composed of a dark brown rounded to conical, buttonlike central disk surrounded by 8 to 20 yellow, petal-like ray flowers. In central Indiana it usually blooms late Spring to mid-Summer. Folk medicine used the leaves of the plant to make a tea and yellow dye can also be made from the plant.