Echinacea pallida

Echinacea pallida was described in a monograph by R. L. McGregor (1968) and is generally accepted (e.g., Kartesz, 1994 and 1999, FNA 2006c, Weakley and Southeastern Flora Team 2023). A common misconception is that the rays of E. pallida are always pale; rays can be a dark pink hue. This species can be difficult to distinguish from E. simulata, with which it intergrades to the east of its range, and from E. sanguinea to its south (McKeown 1999).

Echinacea pallida is a tap rooted perennial herb of central Canada (Ontario) and USA from northeastern Texas to Kansas, east to Iowa, Illinois, through central and western Missouri and Arkansas. Although still abundant in parts of its range in the Great Plains and southern states, this species has suffered from rangewide habitat loss and degradation. The conversion of its native prairie to pastures or developed lands and logging of woodland habitat, highway maintenance practices and fire suppression 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.

Echinacea pallida occurs in central Canada (Ontario) and USA from northeastern Texas to Kansas, east to Iowa, Illinois, through central and western Missouri and Arkansas. It has an irregular distribution east of the Mississippi River and is established as an exotic in several eastern states (Weakley and Southeastern Flora Team 2023).

Historically this species was abundant, widespread, and secure in the central Great Plains and uncommon and possibly introduced in the Eastern USA. Echinacea pallida is widespread in Kansas and is still fairly common in Oklahoma and Missouri. By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium records and NatureServe Network data documented between 1983 and 2024, it is estimated that there are at least 245 occurrences rangewide (NatureServe 2024, SEINet 2024).

This species is threatened by fire suppression resulting in habitat succession, mowing and herbicide use to control noxious weeds or roadside vegetation, logging, development, competitive non-native species, and wild harvest for the medicinal herb trade. Habitat destruction by logging is possibly the biggest threat and especially evident in areas where logging is prevalent in western Louisiana. Where open pine woods have not been clear cut, encroachment is occurring. Populations in powerline rights-of-way are declining but secure in Arkansas due to the use of herbicides (Witsell, pers. comm., 2024). 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. While Echinacea angustifolia is typically targeted, any Echinacea spp. could be impacted. This species has a deep taproot similar to E. angustifolia. A study of the species's response to harvesting found that when roots of E. angustifolia 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. Castle et al. (2014) assessed the risk of overharvest as moderate for the closely related E. angustifolia, which would have a similar assessment as E. purpurea. This risk is based on life history, effects of harvest, populations size, habitat, and demand including the consideration availability of cultivated resources.