Echinacea purpurea

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Echinacea purpurea
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Asterales Family: Asteraceae Tribe: Heliantheae Genus: Echinacea Species: E. purpurea
Binomial name
Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench

Echinacea purpurea (Eastern purple coneflower; syn. Brauneria purpurea (L.) Britt., Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench var. arkansana Steyermark, Rudbeckia purpurea L.) is a species of flowering plant in the genus Echinacea.^[1] Recognizable by its purple cone-shaped flowers, it is native to eastern North America^[1] and present to some extent in the wild in much of the eastern, southeastern and midwest United States.^[2] and often known as the purple coneflower.

Echinacea purpurea is also grown as an ornamental plant, and numerous cultivars have been developed for flower quality and plant form.

Contents 1 Physical characteristics 2 Propagation 3 Predators 4 Medicinal properties 5 References 6 External links 7 Further reading

[edit] Physical characteristics

This perennial flowering plant is 1.2 m tall and 0.5 m wide at maturity. Depending on the climate, it begins to bloom in late May or early July, before losing its flowers in August.^{[citation needed]} Its flowers are hermaphroditic, having both male and female organs on each flower. It is pollinated by butterflies. Its habitats include dry open woods, prairies and barrens, as well as cultivated beds. Although the plant prefers loamy or sandy, well-drained soils, it is little affected by the soil's ph. Unable to grow in the shade, Echinacea purpurea thrives in either dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought, once established.

[edit] Propagation

Seed germination occurs best with daily temperature fluctuations which help to end the seeds dormancy. Clumps of Echinacea purpurea can be divided, or broken into smaller bunches, which is normally done in the spring or autumn. ^[1]

[edit] Predators

Slugs eat this plant.^[1]

[edit] Medicinal properties

At least one study shows Echinacea purpurea has antidepressant properties.^[3]

closeup of E. purpura flower centre

A stand of Echinacea purpurea

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Echinacea purpurea - (L.)Moench.. Plants For A Future (June 2004). Retrieved on 2007-06-06.
2. ^ Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench (eastern purple coneflower). PLANTS Profile. United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service. Retrieved on 2007-06-07.
3. ^ SpringerLink - Journal Article. www.springerlink.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-04.

• Blanchan, Neltje (2005). Wild Flowers Worth Knowing. Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. 
• Amira M. K. Abouelella, Yasser E. Shahein, Sameh S. ‎Tawfik,‎ Ahmed M. Zahran. Phytotherapeutic effects of Echinacea purpurea in gamma-irradiated mice. [J. Vet. Sci., 8(4): 341-‎‎351‎‏ ‏‎(2007)‎].

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[edit] External links

• Echinaceas- Their Care and Culture(Heronswood Nursery)
• Plants For A Future: Echinacea purpurea
• USDA Plants Profile: Echinacea purpurea
• aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/Wildseed

[edit] Further reading

• FE Koen, "The Influence of Echinacea Purpurea On The Hypophyseal-Adrenal System;" Arzneimittel-Forschung 3 (1953): 133-137. 8.