Bush's purple-coneflower

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Bush's purple-coneflower
• Bush's purple coneflower

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae and order Asterales, it is a member of the Asteraceae family. Specifically, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Echinacea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed across several regions within the central and southern portions of the United States. In the North-Central U.S.A., its presence is noted specifically in the state of Missouri. It can also be found within the North-Central U.S.A. region in Oklahoma. Moving toward the South-Central U.S.A., the species extends its reach into Texas. Finally, its geographical range includes the Southeastern U.S.A., particularly within Arkansas.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Echinacea paradoxa is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist in its habitat over multiple growing seasons. As a long-lived species, it establishes a robust root system that supports its survival through varying environmental conditions, distinguishing it from annual or biennial species that complete their life cycle in a single or dual season. This perennial nature enables the plant to undergo seasonal cycles of vegetative growth and reproductive flowering, often returning to greater vigor in subsequent years once its perennial rootstock is firmly established.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Echinacea paradoxa is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically classified as a forb. It functions as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor an epiphyte, maintaining a strictly terrestrial habit. In terms of its structural support, the plant is self-supporting, lacking any climbing, liana, or vine-like tendencies, and it does not require external structures for elevation.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Reproduction

The reproduction of Echinacea paradoxa is closely tied to its seasonal flowering cycle, which is characterized by a relatively brief blooming period. The flowering process typically commences in May, marking the onset of its reproductive phase. This period of floral development continues through the late spring and early summer months, with the flowering duration concluding in June. This specific timing dictates the window available for pollination and subsequent seed development, making the transition from May to June a critical phase in the plant's life cycle.

Flowering time :

May

Flowering time :

Jun

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Echinacea paradoxa has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Echinacoside.

Echinacoside

1. Planta medica