Purple coneflower

Classification
Kingdom - Plantae
Division - Magnoliophyta
Class - Magnoliopsida
Order - Asterales
Family - Asteraceae (aster family)
Genus species - Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench

Etymology
The genus Echinacea is named for a small, spiny, omnivorous mammal of Europe, Asia and Africa called the "Hedgehog" (Erinaceus sp.). The spines of the hedgehog are reminiscent of the receptacle chaff of the plants.

Description
Purple coneflower is a showy, clump forming herbaceous perennial. 
It dies to the ground in winter and sprouts back in spring.
Established clumps can be up to 3 ft in diameter and just as tall.
Daisylike flower heads, up to 3 in across, are very attractive with rose purple rays and large, cone-shaped purple brown centers.
Several cultivars are available to the gardener, including some with white ray flowers.


Purple coneflower. Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. Illustrated
flora of the northern states and Canada. Vol. 3: 475.

 

Leaves
 Dark green leaves are coarse and sandpapery, usually lance shaped, and 3-8 in long.

Inflorescence
Single flower head on each stem.

Ray flowers
Pinkish-purple, up to 3 inches long
Spreading at first and then slightly reflexed
Slightly toothed at tip.

Disk flowers
Tubular corolla
Up to 6 mm long
Deep red to purplish-brown

Stems
Up to 2 m tall, herbaceous
Covered with long stiff hairs or short fine hairs

This is a very popular plant for gardening and for medicinal purposes. It grows well from seed and is found in many commercial seed mixes.

Sources
http://www.missouriplants.com/Pinkalt/Echinacea_purpurea_page.html



Purple coneflower plants



Purple coneflower stem is covered with hairs


The receptacle chaff is spiny like a hedgehog


Ray flowers are pink, 3 inches long.
Disk flowers are dark red or purplish-brown, 6 mm long