Introductory
SPECIES: Echinacea angustifolia | Purple Coneflower 



ABBREVIATION : 
ECHANG

SYNONYMS : 
NO-ENTRY


SCS PLANT CODE : 
   ECAN2


COMMON NAMES : 
   purple coneflower
   black sampson
   comb plant
   echinacea
   Kansas snakeroot
   narrow-leaved coneflower
   snakeroot


TAXONOMY : 
The currently accepted scientific name for purple coneflower is
Echinacea angustifolia DC.  There are two recognized varieties [13]:
 
        E. angustifolia var. angustifolia
        E. angustifolia var. strigosa R.L. McGreg.

All taxa of the genus Echinacea hybridize, and hybrids within this genus are
therefore common [18].


LIFE FORM : 
Forb

FEDERAL LEGAL STATUS : 
No special status

OTHER STATUS : 
NO-ENTRY


COMPILED BY AND DATE : 
Crystal Walkup, August 1991


LAST REVISED BY AND DATE : 
NO-ENTRY


AUTHORSHIP AND CITATION : 
Walkup, Crystal J. 1991. Echinacea angustifolia. In: Remainder of Citation

DISTRIBUTION AND OCCURRENCE
SPECIES: Echinacea angustifolia | Purple Coneflower 



GENERAL DISTRIBUTION : 
Purple coneflower's range extends from western Minnesota to eastern
Saskatchewan south, east of the Rocky Mountains, to Texas [17].  The
greatest concentration occurs in the Great Plains [13].


ECOSYSTEMS : 
   FRES17  Elm - ash - cottonwood
   FRES21  Ponderosa pine
   FRES38  Plains grasslands
   FRES39  Prairie


STATES : 
     CO  IA  KS  MN  MO  MT  NE  ND  OK  SD
     TX  WY  MB  SK


ADMINISTRATIVE UNITS : 
     BADL  BICA  DETO  JECA  LAME  PIPE
     THRO  WICA


BLM PHYSIOGRAPHIC REGIONS : 
   13  Rocky Mountain Piedmont
   14  Great Plains
   15  Black Hills Uplift
   16  Upper Missouri Basin and Broken Lands


KUCHLER PLANT ASSOCIATIONS : 
   K016  Eastern ponderosa forest
   K017  Black Hills pine forest
   K051  Wheatgrass - bluegrass
   K056  Wheatgrass - needlegrass shrubsteppe
   K064  Grama - needlegrass - wheatgrass
   K070  Sandsage - bluestem prairie
   K074  Bluestem prairie
   K081  Oak savanna


SAF COVER TYPES : 
    42  Bur oak
   236  Bur oak
   237  Interior ponderosa pine


SRM (RANGELAND) COVER TYPES : 
NO-ENTRY


HABITAT TYPES AND PLANT COMMUNITIES : 
NO-ENTRY

VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Echinacea angustifolia | Purple Coneflower 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
Purple coneflower provides fair to good quality forage for livestock and
wildlife before plants reach maturity [22].  Cattle avoid purple
coneflower once it reaches maturity [20], and white-tailed deer do not
browse it at any stage of growth [9].  Purple coneflower is an important
food source for pronghorn [4].



PALATABILITY : 
NO-ENTRY


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


COVER VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
Purple coneflower direct seeded on coal spoil materials did well the
first year following planting.  It showed excellent establishment
characteristics, although it did not make outstanding height growth or
provide exceptionally good cover [3].  Plants may be propagated using
tissue culture [15] or by root cuttings or divisions of the crown [6].
Dickerson discusses field establishment, harvesting, and seed-cleaning
methods for large-scale production of purple coneflower seed [7].


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
Medicinal:  Roots were used by Native Americans in several forms to
treat snake and insect bites, toothache, swollen glands, sore throat,
rabies, fits, and stomach cramps.  Anglo-Americans began using it as an
aromatic and carminative by 1852.  In 1887 an extract of the plant was
marketed and used for several decades.  Recent research has shown the
plant to have active medicinal constituents.  The root possesses a mild
antibiotic activity against streptococcus and staphylococcus aureus.  It
also possesses antiinflammatory activity and has therapeutic use in
urology, gynecology, internal medicine, and dermatology [16].

Horticultural:  Purple coneflower survives harsh growing conditions,
outlasts most other cut flowers, and is nearly indestructible in dried
arrangements [13].


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Purple coneflower decreases in response to moderate grazing and is
eliminated by heavy grazing [20,22].  Its prescence is an indicator of
good range condition [22].  The 1930's drought practically eliminated
purple coneflower, but it returned slowly once drought conditions ended
[20].

BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SPECIES: Echinacea angustifolia | Purple Coneflower 



GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS : 
Purple coneflower is a perennial forb which grows from a woody base
[20].  Flowerheads are singular, with purple to pinkish flowers formed
around a spiny center [6,20].  Plants grow 2 to 3.5 feet (0.6-1.1 m)
tall and may spread 5 to 10 inches (12-24 cm) in the first year from
short vertical rhizomes [2,15].  The strong taproot extends 4.7 to 6.5
feet (1.5-2 m) into the soil [2].


RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM : 
   Geophyte


REGENERATION PROCESSES : 
Although perennial, coneflowers behave more like annuals, sending up
only a few shoots from the crown and putting most of their energy into a
prolonged period of flower and seed production [13].

Sexual:  Plants do not produce seed the first year [7].  Seedlings have
low vigor and require careful tending for good establishment [7,16].
Filled seeds have excellent viability, but germination is impeded by a
corky seed covering.  Removal of the covering increased germination from
13 to 92 percent [21].

Vegetative:  Rhizomes allow plants to increase vegetatively [2,15].


SITE CHARACTERISTICS : 
Purple coneflower is common on dry open prairie and plains [5,6].  It is
common on sandy soils and rocky areas [6,13,17].  In Kansas it was found
on thin shaley silt loam soil but not on nearby silt loam and deep silt
loam soils [19].  Plants require a large amount of sunshine and grow
best in open areas [13].  Common associates include little bluestem
(Schizachyrium scoparium) and big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii var.
gerardii).


SUCCESSIONAL STATUS : 
NO-ENTRY


SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT : 
Purple coneflower flowers from May to August, depending on location [6].
Flowering occurs from May to July in Kansas [15], June to July in
Colorado, July in Montana, and June to August in North Dakota [8].

FIRE ECOLOGY
SPECIES: Echinacea angustifolia | Purple Coneflower 



FIRE ECOLOGY OR ADAPTATIONS : 
Purple coneflower resprouts from rhizomes following top-kill by fire.



POSTFIRE REGENERATION STRATEGY : 
   Rhizomatous herb, rhizome in soil
   Caudex, growing points in soil

FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Echinacea angustifolia | Purple Coneflower 



IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT : 
Purple coneflower is top-killed by fire.


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT : 
NO-ENTRY


PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE : 
Purple coneflower was unaffected by a March prescribed burn.  Frequency
was high in May, June, and August immediately following the burn [19].
Late spring burning in the tallgrass prairie, however, generally reduces
the number of forbs [1].

Purple coneflower was a predominant species in a South Dakota study
where forb production increased dramatically following fall burning
(October 16), with no difference in production in spring-burned (May 9)
and unburned meadows [10].  However, spring-burned slopes had an
increase in forb density [10,11].


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE : 
NO-ENTRY


FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
NO-ENTRY

REFERENCES
SPECIES: Echinacea angustifolia | Purple Coneflower 



REFERENCES : 

 .  Anderson, Kling L.; Smith, Ed F.; Owensby, Clenton E. 1970. Burning
       bluestem range. Journal of Range Management. 23: 81-92.  [323]

 .  Bare, Janet E. 1979. Wildflowers and weeds of Kansas. Lawrence, KS: The
       Regents Press of Kansas. 509 p.  [3801]

 .  Bjugstad, Ardell J.; Whitman, Warren C. 1982. Perennial forbs for
       wildlife habitat restoration on mined lands in the northern Great
       Plains. In: Western proceedings, 62nd annual conference of the Western
       Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies; 1982 July 19-22; Las Vegas,
       Nevada. [Place of publication unknown]: [Publisher unknown]: 257-271. On
       file with: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain
       Research Station, Fire Sciences Lab, Missoula, MT.  [2932]

 .  Bromley, Peter T. 1977. Aspects of the behavioural ecology and
       sociobiology of the pronghorn (Antilocapra americana). Calgary, AB:
       University of Calgary. 370 p. Dissertation.  [8088]

 .  Buell, Murray F.; Facey, Vera. 1960. Forest-prairie transition west of
       Itasca Park, Minnesota. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club. 87(1):
       46-58.  [14171]

 .  Cronquist, Arthur. 1955. Vascular plants of the Pacific Northwest: Part
       5: Compositae. Seattle: University of Washington Press. 343 p.  [716]

 .  Dickerson, John A.; Longren, Warren G.; Hadle, Edith K. 1981. Native
       forb seed production. In: Stuckey, Ronald L.; Reese, Karen J., eds. The
       prairie peninsula--in the "shadow" of Transeau: Proceedings, 6th North
       American prairie conference; 1978 August 12-17; Columbus, OH. Ohio
       Biological Survey Biological Notes No. 15. Columbus, OH: Ohio State
       University, College of Biological Sciences: 218-222.  [3431]

 .  Dittberner, Phillip L.; Olson, Michael R. 1983. The plant information
       network (PIN) data base: Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, Utah, and
       Wyoming. FWS/OBS-83/86. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of the Interior,
       Fish and Wildlife Service. 786 p.  [806]

 .  Englund, Judy Voigt; Meyer, William J. 1986. The impact of deer on 24
       species of prairie forbs. In: Clambey, Gary K.; Pemble, Richard H., eds.
       The prairie: past, present and future: Proceedings, 9th North American
       prairie conference; 1984 July 29 - August 1; Moorhead, MN. Fargo, ND:
       Tri-College University Center for Environmental Studies: 210-212. 
       [3575]

.  Gartner, F. Robert. 1977. Ecological changes on pine grassland burned in
       fall and spring. Final Report Contract No. PX 120051027, U.S. Department
       of the Interior National Park Service, Rocky Mountain Regional Office.
       Rapid City, SD: South Dakota State University, Agricultural Research and
       Extension Center. 35 p.  [1001]

.  Gartner, F. Robert; Thompson, Wesley W. 1973. Fire in the Black Hills
       forest-grass ecotone. In: Proceedings, annual Tall Timbers fire ecology
       conference; 1972 June 8-9; Lubbock, TX. No. 12. Tallahassee, FL: Tall
       Timbers Research Station: 37-68.  [1002]

.  Great Plains Flora Association. 1986. Flora of the Great Plains.
       Lawrence, KS: University Press of Kansas. 1392 p.  [1603]

.  Hipps, Carol Bishop. 1988. Purple coneflower. Horticulture. August:
       46-49.  [15616]

.  Holden, D. J.; Ellis, B. E.; Chen, C. H. 1978. Cloning native prairie
       plants by tissue culture. In: Glenn-Lewin, David C.; Landers, Roger Q.,
       Jr., eds. Proceedings, 5th Midwest prairie conference; 1976 August
       22-24; Ames, IA. Ames, IA: Iowa State University: 92-95.  [3355]

.  Jacobson, Erling T. 1975. The evaluation, selection and increase of
       prairie wildflowers for conservation beautification. In: Wali, Mohan K.,
       ed. Prairie: a multiple view. Grand Forks, ND: University of North
       Dakota Press: 395-404.  [4437]

.  Kindscher, Kelly. 1989. Ethnobotany of purple coneflower (Echinacea
       angustifolia, Asteraceae) and other Echinacea species. Economic Botany.
       43(4): 498-507.  [15615]

.  Lippert, Robert D.; Hopkins, Harold H. 1950. Study of viable seeds in
       various habitats in mixed prairie. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of
       Science. 53(3): 355-364.  [1461]

.  Ripple, William J.; Johnson, David H.; Hershey, K. T.; Meslow, E.
       Charles. 1991. Old-growth and mature forests near spotted owl nests in
       western Oregon. Journal of Wildlife Management. 55(2): 316-318.  [15164]

.  Piper, Jon K.; Gernes, Mark C. 1989. Vegetation dynamics of three
       tallgrass prairie sites. In: Bragg, Thomas B.; Stubbendieck, James, eds.
       Prairie pioneers: ecology, history and culture: Proceedings, 11th North
       American prairie conference; 1988 August 7-11; Lincoln, NE. Lincoln, NE:
       University of Nebraska: 9-14.  [14011]

.  Sarvis, J. T. 1941. Grazing investigations on the Northern Great Plains.
       Bull. 307. Fargo, ND: North Dakota Experiment Station. 110 p. In
       cooperation with: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Northern Great Plains
       Field Station.  [10853]

.  Sorensen, J. T.; Holden, D. J. 1974. Germination of native prairie forb
       seeds. Journal of Range Management. 27(2): 123-126.  [15617]

.  Stubbendieck, James; Nichols, James T.; Butterfield, Charles H. 1989.
       Nebraska range and pasture forbs and shrubs (including succulent
       plants). Extension Circular 89-118. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska,
       Nebraska Cooperative Extension. 153 p.  [10168]

Related categories for Species: Echinacea angustifolia | Purple Coneflower