Echinacea is a genus, or group of herbaceous flowering plants in the daisy family, Asteraceae. The echinacea genus has nine species, which are commonly called coneflowers. They are endemic to eastern and central North America, where they are found growing in moist to dry prairies and open wooded areas. They have large, showy heads of composite flowers, blooming from early to late summer. The generic name is derived from the Greek word ἐχῖνος (echino), meaning “sea urchin,” due to the spiny central disk. These flowering plants and their parts have different purposes. Some species are cultivated in gardens for their showy flowers, and some are traditionally used to treat and prevent common cold, flu, and other infections.Echinacea purpurea is commonly used medicinally. Two of the nine species, E. tennesseeosis and E. levitate, are listed in the United States as endangered species. Wikipedia
Coneflowers are so lovely and so are your photos of them. Have a nice weekend.
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Thank you for your lovely compliment, Ingmarie! Enjoy your weekend too!
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Lovely photos. The coneflowers are very photogenic!
Thanks for participating in Floral Friday Fotos, hope to see your work again in this week’s edition!
(PS: Another Friday meme you may enjoy is Friday Greens: http://nixpages.blogspot.com.au/2015/01/friday-greens.html)
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Thank you Nick! I will do that!
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Coneflowers are so uniquely beautiful. Love these shots, Aletta!
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Thank you so much Amy!!
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Lovely shots! 🙂 I see these in lots of places now so they must be quite adaptable.
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Thanks, Jo! It looks like they are!
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When I first encountered these, I thought they were past their best, with their petals drooping down. 🙂 They are such cute little flowers.
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They are!! 🙂
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Gorgeous! I love coneflowers.
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Thank you, Gunilla!
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You know, I love your posts on flowers. I have already learned a lot about some flowers. Thanks a lot!
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You’re welcome! I am learning a lot too!
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Awesome!
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I like your last photo the best because it shows the spiral of the middle (what is that part called?) The last photo makes me think of the petals dropping off and the center becoming prominent, which can happen as we age. Thanks for the fascinating fact that “chino” means sea urchin!!! I can never pronounce the name of this flower!!
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I also never know how to pronounce the name!! I am glad you enjoyed the information!
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These photos are just lovely. 😀
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Thank you Raewyn!
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Thank you for a very interesting and informative post. All I know about echinacea is that it’s used in herbal medicine as an immune system boost. They’re a lovely flower and you have some great photos. I like the last one best – it looks almost shy with it’s petals so demurely down. 🙂
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Thank you so much for your lovely compliment, Louise! I have learned a lot too!
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Thanks for sharing cone flowers on this snowy day. It will be awhile before I can enjoy them in person. Happy New Year. Tom The Backroads Traveller
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That was a pleasure, Tom! Happy new year to you too!!
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