Smooth Coneflower

By Dale Suiter, Endangered Species Biologist U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Raleigh: Echinacea is a genus, or group of herbaceous flowering plants with nine species, known as coneflowers as a reference to their iconic high dome, or cone-shaped seed head. The protruding spike-like flowers that make-up the “cone” or seed head give the genus Echinacea its scientific name, from the Greek word echinos, which means spiny or prickly. NC Smooth coneflower is a perennial herb that will live for more than two years. It is not to be confused with its close relative and commercially available purple coneflower, Echinacea purpurea. The smooth coneflower can be distinguished from its most similar relative, the purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) by its leaves, which in the smooth coneflower are elliptical, and never heart-shaped, like those of the purple coneflower. Also, in purple coneflower, the ray flowers (petals) are more perky, not droopy like smooth coneflower. Smooth coneflower reproduces through rhizomes and by seed. One rhizome can produce multiple rosettes, which can divide and become viable plants. Threats to Smooth Coneflower include: •Habitat destruction and degradation •Collection •Fire suppression •Highway right-of-way maintenance •Urbanization and suburbanization of the species’ range •Encroachment by exotic species •Inadequacy of existing protection afforded by State laws •Small population size, What appear to be droopy “petals” of an individual flower, are actually ray flowers. Smooth coneflower has characteristic narrow, drooping, light pink to purplish “petals” that emerge rolled and appear string like. Eventually the “petals” fall off, but they look droopy shortly after the flowers open. Smooth coneflower is in the aster family (Asteraceae). The word aster means star in Greek, and refers to the star-like form of the flower that radiates from the center outwardly in a perfect circle. This plant is characterized by the composite flower heads and one-seeded achene fruits. Other members of the aster family include the aster, daisy, dandelion, goldenrod, marigold, ragweed, sunflower, thistle, and zinnia.

By: Caroline S. Krom U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, NC Sandhills Safe Harbor Coordinator: Smooth coneflower is a composite, a cluster of flowers grouped together to form a single flower-like structure. Each single flower is referred to as a floret. The combined cluster is referred to as inflorescence.