Echinacea is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants in the daisy family
Although flowers in the genus Echinacea are common across the United States, two of the nine species have been listed as endangered species. Thanks to strong recovery, one has been delisted, and the other is now only listed as threatened. Echinacea is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants in the daisy family. Pictured here is a hybrid species that is a cross of potentially several of the nine species. Let’s learn more about this amazing plant.
Echinacea is the scientific name for this genus of flowers. The common name is coneflowers. They have large heads of composite flowers that appear to have spikes coming out of their central “cones”. The scientific name comes from the Greek word “ekhinos” meaning “hedgehog”. They can only be found in the central and eastern parts of North America, and they are found in moist to dry prairies and open wooded areas.
Echinacea are drought tolerant perennials. They can grow to be up to 4 feet 7 inches tall. The flowers grow from a peduncle, or stalk, that comes from the base of the plant. The flowers grow singularly on the peduncle. The spiky parts of the cone that can be seen in this photo are known as paleae. They start out green, and can change to orange or reddish purple ends. There are typically eight to twenty-one ray florets extending from the flower. Up to 300 disc florets can exist on one flower head that could all produce seeds for future flowers.
There is debate over how many species of Echinacea there are. Plants of the World Online accepts nine species, while World Flora gives ten. The species they agree on are: narrow-leaf coneflower, Topeka purple coneflower, smooth coneflower, pale purple coneflower, yellow coneflower, purple coneflower, sanguine coneflower, narrow-leaved purple coneflower, wavyleaf purple coneflower, and Tennessee coneflower. They disagree on Echinacea serotina on whether or not it is a synonym of purple coneflower, or if it is its own species.
There is debate over how many species of Echinacea there are
Did you know?
- Coneflowers have long been used as a traditional medicine.
- Echinacea is also the name of the superoerder of sea urchins.
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