Asteraceae : Echinacea angustifolia

Echinacea angustifolia is a perennial herb with simple to branched stems which grow 10-60 cm in height. The stems are usually hairy, especially towards the top. The leaves are simple, alternate the margins entire and have 3-5 strong nerves running lengthwise. The lower leaves are petiolate, 5-30 cm long and 1-4 cm wide. The upper leaves becoming sessile and progressively smaller. The inflorescence consists of 1 or more heads, about 1.5 cm across, on long peduncles. The involucral bracts are 6-11 mm long and the conical receptacle 1.5-3 cm tall. The ray flowers have pink to light pink ligules 2-4 cm long and the disk flowers have a purplish corolla 6-8 mm long. The achenes are 4-5 kk long with a papery pappus that looks like a toothed crown. Echinacea angustifolia bloom from June to July on open rocky plains and prairies throughout South Dakota.