July_2006

Tennessee Coneflower
Echinacea tennesseensis

This species was the first plant from Tennessee to qualify as a federally endangered species. It is found
nowhere else in the world except the Central Basin counties of Davidson, Rutherford, and Wilson. The
consistent upward or forward pointing ray flowers aid in the identification of this species as they rarely, if ever,
appear reflexed or bent backward as do the ray flowers in other species of Echinacea.
The plants are generally 2-3 feet tall and the flower heads measure 2.5-3.5 inches across. The ray flowers
are usually a medium purple and the disk is very dark purple, almost appearing black. The leaves are long
and narrow and the whole plant is covered in coarse hairs.