DC.
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.128470
Element CodePDAST38010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderAsterales
FamilyAsteraceae
GenusEchinacea
Other Common NamesÉchinacée à feuilles étroites (FR)
Concept ReferenceKartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Taxonomic CommentsVarieties of Echinacea angustifolia are not considered distinct in the Flora of North America treatment (2006c) following the work of Binns et al. (2002) that found the varieties indistinguishable. Weakley and Southeastern Flora Team (2023) retain these varieties, following the monograph by R.L. McGregor (1968).
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2024-02-12
Change Date2024-01-23
Edition Date2024-02-12
Edition AuthorsK. McKeown (1999), rev. L. Morse (2000), rev. Eberly (2024), rev. SE Ranking Workshop (2024)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank ReasonsEchinacea angustifolia is a long-lived perennial herb that is widespread in the Great Plains region of North America. Although still abundant, this species has suffered from large scale habitat loss and degradation, and nearly a century of wild root harvesting. The conversion of its native prairie habitat to pastures, overgrazing, and the control of noxious weeds, highway maintenance practices, fire suppression, and development have contributed to a slow decline in the species. As a species of highly fragmented habitats, inbreeding depression and low reproductive success are issues to monitor moving forward, in addition to direct loss of occurrences.
Range Extent CommentsEchinacea angustifolia occurs in south-central Canada and central USA from Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Montana and Minnesota, south to New Mexico, Texas and Louisiana.
Occurrences CommentsThis species was historically abundant, secure and widespread throughout the Great Plains.
Threat Impact CommentsThis species is threatened by fire suppression resulting in habitat succession, mowing, herbicide use to control noxious weeds, conversion of prairie to pasture, intensive grazing, development, and wild harvest for the medicinal herb trade. In north central Kansas, this species has been harvested commercially for over 100 years (Price and Kindscher 2007) but interviews with wild harvesters revealed that "experienced diggers use practices that moderate harvest intensity by rotating harvest areas and selectively harvesting at low density" (Price and Kindscher 2007). Excessive commercial harvest for medicinal purposes is a potential future threat depending on the demand of the market, local economics, and the standing of cultivated sources. When roots are shallowly harvested with less root length removed, plants can resprout; one study found 50% of plants resprouted at harvest sites. This research suggests that the species is capable of recovering after severe harvest if the plants are given time to recover (Kindscher et al. 2008). Castle et al. (2014) assessed the risk of overharvest as moderate for this species based on life history, effects of harvest, populations size, habitat, and demand including the consideration availability of cultivated resources.