Wildflowers of the United States

Tennessee Coneflower, Tennessee Purple Coneflower - Echinacea tennesseensis

Native Status: Native

Dicot Perennial Herb Leaves:Basal Leaves:Alternate

Echinacea tennesseensis - Tennessee Coneflower, Tennessee Purple Coneflower.
Echinacea (Purple Coneflower) is a small genus of 9 or 10 species closely related to Rudbeckia (Coneflower). All species of Echinacea are endemic to eastern and central North America. Plants in the genus are known for their medicinal value. Echinacea tennesseensis has the smallest distribution of all species in the genus - cedar glades of three counties in central Tennessee. The plant was placed on the U.S. Endangered Species list in 1979 (it was among the first proposed for the list), but due to recovery was delisted in 2011. It is still considered rare due to its very limited distribution.
Synonym(s): Echinacea angustifolia var. tennesseensis

Found in:
TN

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Distribution of Echinacea tennesseensis in the United States and Canada:

Map courtesy of The Biota of North America Program.
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Site: Couchville Cedar Glade, Davidson County, TN Date: 2019-June-25	Photographer: Gerald C Williamson Nikon D7000
The Echinacea tennesseensis flower heads have 8 to 15 purple or pink ray florets which are narrow and spreading, pointing upward.

Site: Couchville Cedar Glade, Davidson County, TN Date: 2017-May-11	Photographer: Gerald C. Williamson Nikon D7000 Tamron SP 90MM f/2.8 AF Macro
The Echinacea tennesseensis flower heads have 8 to 15 purple or pink ray florets which are narrow and spreading.
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Site: Couchville Cedar Glade, Davidson County, TN Date: 2017-May-11	Photographer: Gerald C Williamson Nikon D7000
The disc of Echinacea tennesseensis is about an inch across. There are numerous disc florets, usually with purple lobes.
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Site: Couchville Cedar Glade, Davidson County, TN Date: 2017-May-11	Photographer: Gerald C Williamson Nikon D7000
Tennessee Coneflower grows to 2 or 3 feet tall. The stem is coarsely spreading hairy. The ray flowers of Tennessee Coneflower are usually pointing somewhat upward.
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Site: Couchville Cedar Glade, Davidson County, TN Date: 2017-May-11	Photographer: Gerald C Williamson Nikon D7000
There are few stem leaves on Echinacea tennesseensis, with those that are there alternate on the stem. All leaves are petiolate (although those in the upper stem might have very short petioles), long and narrow, and have parallel primary veins. The leaf margins are entire, but may be ciliate. In my limited experience, the upper surface of the leaf may be only sparsely hairy.
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Site: Couchville Cedar Glade, Davidson County, TN Date: 2017-May-11	Photographer: Gerald C Williamson Nikon D7000
The lower surface of the leaves are quite hairy with long, spreading hairs.
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References used for identification and information:

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Echinacea tennesseensis initially published on USWildflowers.com 2018-08-17; Updated 2018-10-26

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All content except USDA Plants Database map Copyright Gerald C. Williamson 2024
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Code Update 20230302