Tennessee purple coneflower

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Tennessee purple-coneflower
• Tennessee coneflower

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Echinacea pallida var. tennesseensis
• Echinacea angustifolia var. tennesseensis
• Brauneria tennesseensis

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Echinacea tennesseensis, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Asterales. Finally, it is a member of the family Asteraceae and is specifically categorized under the genus Echinacea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is characterized by a very specific and limited geographical range. It is found exclusively within the Southeastern United States. More precisely, its natural habitat is restricted to the state of Tennessee. Because of this narrow distribution, it is considered a localized species. This specific location defines the primary area where the plant can be discovered in the wild.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Echinacea tennesseensis is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, meaning it completes its life cycle over multiple years rather than dying after a single growing season. As a perennial, the species establishes a robust root system that allows it to survive dormant periods during unfavorable environmental conditions, such as extreme cold or drought, before re-emerging to continue its growth cycle. This long-term survival strategy enables the plant to accumulate resources over time, supporting the development of its characteristic flowering structures in successive seasons. By persisting through multiple years, the plant can participate in long-term reproductive cycles, contributing to the stability of its population within its native habitats.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Echinacea tennesseensis is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically categorized as a forb. It functions as an independent organism, lacking any parasitic or epiphytic tendencies, as it maintains a strictly terrestrial lifestyle rather than being aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic. The plant is entirely self-supporting, showing no tendencies to act as a climber, liana, or vine, and relies on its herbaceous structure for stability.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Echinacea tennesseensis has 4 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include flower, leaf, root, stem.

Flower

1. Cytokine

Leaf

1. Cytokine

Root

1. Cytokine

Stem

1. Cytokine

Chemicals

Echinacea tennesseensis has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include IL 10, TNF alpha.

IL 10

1. Cytokine

TNF alpha

1. Cytokine

Conditions

Echinacea tennesseensis has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include influenza, upper respiratory infections.

Influenza

1. Cytokine

Upper respiratory infections

1. Cytokine

Preparations

Echinacea tennesseensis has 1 reported preparations identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include ethanol tinctures.

Ethanol tinctures

1. Cytokine