Pale Purple Coneflower

Notes:

A member of the sunflower or composite family (Asteraceae). Pale coneflower is a native, perennial forb with a large (2.54 centimeter) (cm) chocolate brown to black taproot with few to little branching that will penetrate into the soil for 2 to 3 meters (m). The stems (1.2 m) are erect, one to several, simple to rarely branched with most of the leaves being basal in nature. The leaves are alternate, simple, rough on both surfaces, and up to 25 cm in length and 2.5 to 4.0 cm in width. Basal leaves have entire margins, are three nerved and petiolate, upper leaves are reduced in size with sessile attachment to the stem. Inflorescence is a head that is solitary at the top of the stem. Pale pink, drooping petal-like ray florets surround the domed, reddishbrown center of disk florets that are rough and prickly to the touch. The pale coneflower blooms in late spring to mid summer. The fruits are small (4-5 millimeter) (mm) elongated, tan achenes that develop in the seed head. The achenes may remain in the heads for many weeks after they mature. The name “Echinacea” (from Greek) means hedgehog comparing the spiny animal to the sharp spiny bracts of the inflorescence. “Pale” and pallida generally refer to the coloration of the ray flowers.