Where is purple coneflower found

Purple coneflowers, often found in vanishing prairies, provide food for bees and other species. A bird's eye view of an Echinacea angustifolia , or narrow-leaved purple coneflower, plant.

Widely believed to ward off and treat colds and flu, Echinacea appears in many over-the-counter remedies sold in pharmacies and in health and nutrition stores. Echinacea is a genus of flowering plants in the daisy family. Its nine wild species live in eastern and central North America; they grow in moist to dry prairies and in open wooded areas. The genus includes the purple coneflower, pale purple coneflower and narrow-leaved purple coneflower.

All have large magenta petals that unfurl from early to late summer. With the coneflower's popularity as an herbal supplement, more homeowners are featuring varieties of it in their gardens. Echinacea , according to the National Garden Bureau, has long been a "top five" perennial in retail sales. For at least one species of wild coneflower, however, the narrow-leaved purple coneflower Echinacea angustifolia , the celebration may be short-lived.

Native to the tallgrass prairie and North American Great Plains, the narrow-leaved purple coneflower "was once abundant and had an extensive range," says Ruth Shaw, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Minnesota. Along with other prairie plants, coneflowers were plowed under. Now the coneflower is restricted to patches of grassland, plots that are prairie remnants, Shaw and colleague Stuart Wagenius of the Chicago Botanic Garden have found.

Joseph 1 Washtenaw 1 Habitat Found in prairie remnants. Natural Community Types Dry-mesic prairie Mesic prairie Methodology For each species, lists of natural communities were derived from review of the nearly 6, element occurrences in the MNFI database, in addition to herbarium label data for some taxa. Associated Plants Big bluestem, little bluestem, Indian grass, bee-balm, butterfly weed, blazing star, and green milkweed. Management Recommendations Widespread via plantings, but not known to be extant via any known native populations.

Survey Methods Random meander search covers areas that appear likely to have rare taxa, based on habitat and the judgment of the investigator. References Survey References Elzinga, C. Salzer, and J. Measuring and Monitoring Plant Populations. BLM Technical Reference Goff, G. Dawson, and J. Site examination for Threatened and Endangered plant species. Environmental Management 6 4 : Nelson, J.

Rare Plant Field Survey Guidelines. In: J. Smith and R. The leaves have long petioles, are prominently veined, and have serrated margins. Leaves are several and grow irregularly along the length of the stalk. Purple coneflower grows best in fields, prairies, or dry open woods. Fun Facts:. Purple coneflower is a medicinal plant whose flowers can be used to make a tea that strengthens the immune system. Liquid capsule- or pill form plant extract is commercially sold in most drugstores.

Butterfly House. Shaw Nature Reserve. Fruit Gardening Vegetable Gardening. Echinacea purpurea. Back to Previous Page. More Images. Species Native to Missouri. Type: Herbaceous perennial. Family: Asteraceae. Native Range: Eastern North America. Height: 2.