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].

Related categories for Species: Echinacea angustifolia | Purple Coneflower