Echinecea Species

Echinacea purpurea

Author: Kevin F. Wildes

Common Names:(Radford, 1968)

Purple Coneflower

Higher Taxa:(Radford, 1968)

Class: Magnoliopsida
Subclass: Tubiflorae
Order:
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Echinacea
Species: purpurea

Identification: A German botanist, Konrad Moench, named the genus in the late 1700's. Echinacea is closely related to Rudbeckia(Armitage et. al., 1997). Armitage describes the species as follows, "The 4-8'' long, dark green leaves are coarse, serrated, and have short, stiff hairs. The 3-4'' diameter flowers consist of a brown central cone with bronze tint, surrounded by broad, rose to purple petals. These droop slightly, although not as much as those of previous species"(Armitage et. al, 1997).

Geography:This species can be found in most Southern states. It is relatively abundant when found. It is usually in large groups. According To Huxley, Griffiths, and Levy, it is distributed widely throughout the Northern Hemisphere and is naturalized to southeastern United States(Huxley et. al., 1992).

Table: North American Distribution of R. triloba

AREA	STATUS	REFERENCES
North America:*Continental United States;Canada*	Yes	Huxley, Anthony, & Levy 1992
Eastern North America:United States east of the Mississippi; Ontario and EasternCanada	Yes	Huxley, Anthony, & Levy 1992
Southeastern United States:VA GA MS TN KY WV	Yes	Huxley, Anthony, & Levy 1992
Southern Appalachian States:GA KY TN VA MS WV	Yes	Huxley, Anthony, & Levy 1992
Coastal Plain	Widespread	Radford, Ahles, & Bell 1968:Jones & Coile, 1988
Piedmont	Widespread	Radford, Ahles, & Bell 1968:Jones & Coile, 1988
Blue Ridge Mountains	Widespread	Radford, Ahles, & Bell 1968:
Great Smoky Mountains National Park	Yes	Radford, Ahles, & Bell 1968:
Ridge and Valley	Yes	Jones & Coile, 1988
Cumberland Plateau	Yes	Jones & Coile, 1988
Central Arch	?	-
Georgia	Yes	Jones & Coile, 1988
Clarke County, GA	Yes	Jones & Coile, 1988
Sams Farm	No	Wildes, Pers. Ob.
Old Field	No	Wildes, Pers. Ob.
Wetland	?	-
Woods	No	Wildes, Pers. Ob.
1-Hectare Plot	No	Wildes, Pers. Ob.

Natural History: Echineceae purpurea usually is blooming during the months from June to August. These plants are tough and handle summer heat well. They do best in full sun and do not benefit by additional fertility, particularly if in partial shade(Armitage et. al., 1997)

How To Encounter: E. purpurea can be found in woodlands and roadbacks. It is rare to be found by the road though(Radford et. al., 1968) This genus was not found on Sams Farm.

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