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Echinacea laevigata

(C.L. Boynt. & Beadle) Blake

Smooth Purple Coneflower

G2Imperiled (G2G3) Found in 19 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G2ImperiledGlobal Rank
HighThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.147692
Element CodePDAST38030
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderAsterales
FamilyAsteraceae
GenusEchinacea
Other Common Names
Smooth Coneflower (EN) smooth purple coneflower (EN)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, 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.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2024-02-12
Change Date2007-12-07
Edition Date2024-02-12
Edition AuthorsK. McKeown (1999), rev. Treher (2016), rev. Soteropoulos (2024), rev. SE Ranking Workshop (2024)
Threat ImpactHigh
Range Extent20,000-200,000 square km (about 8000-80,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences21 - 80
Rank Reasons
Echinacea laevigata is a long-lived perennial herb endemic to open habitats over mafic or calcareous rocks in the Piedmont and Appalachian Mountains in the southeastern United States. It is known from 58 occurrences, a majority of which are of fair to poor viability due to small population sizes and threats, which include development, habitat conversion, fire suppression, maintaining rights-of-way, and collecting. Most historically known populations were destroyed by development and habitat alteration. Monitoring of populations should be conducted to improve our understanding of reproduction, plant abundance, threats, and trends, as well as continuing conservation measures to protect the species.
Range Extent Comments
Echinacea laevigata occurs in the Piedmont and Appalachian Mountains from northeastern Georgia and central and western South Carolina through central North Carolina to central and western Virginia in the southeastern United States (Weakley and the Southeastern Flora Team 2023). Its historical range may also include a disjunct population in the Piedmont of Pennsylvania which is now extirpated (Weakley and the Southeastern Flora Team 2023). Reports from Alabama and Arkansas are believed to have been misidentifications (Gaddy 1991), with an apparent false report from Maryland as well.
Occurrences Comments
By applying a 1 km separation distance to NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between the years of 1996 and 2022, it is estimated that there are 58 occurrences due to their close proximity, pending further field research and excluding four sites that were failed to find, one site considered historic, and one site considered extirpated (NatureServe 2024). A few populations in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina have been restored or augmented.
Threat Impact Comments
Habitat loss and degradation from the growth of woody vegetation as a result of prolonged fire suppression is the primary threat to the species's habitat. Commercial digging was not thought to be a problem as this practice is generally confined to Echinacea species west of the Mississippi River. However, the Southern Appalachian Species Viability Project (2002) reported that this showy species with medicinal uses is occasionally harvested. Conversion of habitat to agriculture and/or silviculture, residential and industrial development, highway maintenance (e.g., herbicides and mowing) have threatened this species in the past and may continue.
Ecology & Habitat

Diagnostic Characteristics

Unlike Echinacea purpurea, E. laevigata does not have heart-shaped leaves. The flower is smooth, with longer, narrower corollas. Also, the awn on the chaff is shorter, only 1/4 the length of the body, as opposed to 1/2 the length for E. purpurea.

Habitat

Formerly, Echinacea laevigata was a plant of prairie-like habitats or oak-savannas maintained by natural or Native American-set fires. Now, it primarily occurs in openings in woods, such as cedar barrens and clear cuts, along roadsides and utility line rights-of-way, and on dry limestone bluffs. It is usually found in areas with magnesium- and calcium-rich soils associated with amphibolite, dolomite or limestone in Virginia, gabbro in North Carolina and Virginia, diabase in North Carolina and South Carolina, and marble in South Carolina and Georgia. It requires full or partial sun. Associated species of Echinacea laevigata include Juniperus virginiana and Eryngium yuccifolium.

Ecology

"Seeds will germinate in most soil types but seedlings require full sun and open habitat to thrive. Young plants are not strong competitors and are quickly overwhelmed by other more aggressive plants" (Chafin 2020).

Reproduction

Flowering occurs May through July and fruiting occurs from June to October. It primarily spreads asexually by rhizomatous growth. Seeds are dispersed by gravity and possibly by birds and mammals similar to related species like Echinacea tennesseensis.
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/WoodlandForest - HardwoodGrassland/herbaceousBare rock/talus/screeCliff
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN2
ProvinceRankNative
South CarolinaS2Yes
GeorgiaS2Yes
PennsylvaniaSXYes
North CarolinaS1Yes
VirginiaS2Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
1 - Residential & commercial developmentLarge (31-70%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh - moderate
1.1 - Housing & urban areasLarge (31-70%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh - moderate
1.2 - Commercial & industrial areasLarge (31-70%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh - moderate
2 - Agriculture & aquacultureLarge (31-70%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh - moderate
2.2 - Wood & pulp plantationsLarge (31-70%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh - moderate
4 - Transportation & service corridorsPervasive - largeModerate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
4.1 - Roads & railroadsPervasive - largeModerate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
4.2 - Utility & service linesPervasive - largeModerate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
5 - Biological resource useLarge (31-70%)Negligible or <1% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
5.2 - Gathering terrestrial plantsLarge (31-70%)Negligible or <1% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
7 - Natural system modificationsLarge (31-70%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
7.1 - Fire & fire suppressionLarge (31-70%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)

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Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (19)
Georgia (3)
AreaForestAcres
Big MountainChattahoochee National Forest1,974
Helton CreekChattahoochee National Forest2,348
Turner CreekChattahoochee National Forest1,495
South Carolina (4)
AreaForestAcres
Bee CoveSumter National Forest3,025
Big MountainSumter National Forest2,337
Ellicott Rock 1Sumter National Forest301
Ellicott Rock 2Sumter National Forest517
Virginia (12)
AreaForestAcres
Broad RunJefferson National Forest10,971
Broad RunJefferson National Forest10,971
Brush MountainJefferson National Forest6,002
Brush Mountain EastJefferson National Forest4,916
Brush Mountain EastJefferson National Forest4,916
Dolly AnnGeorge Washington National Forest7,855
Hoop HoleJefferson National Forest4,652
Mill MountainGeorge Washington National Forest10,840
Oliver MountainGeorge Washington National Forest13,090
Patterson MountainJefferson National Forest4,865
Price MountainJefferson National Forest9,119
Three SistersGeorge Washington National Forest8,149
References (23)
  1. Amoroso, Jame. Personal communication. Botanist. North Carolina Heritage Program, NC Dept. of Environment, Health, &amp; Natural Resources, Division of Parks And Recreation, Raleigh, NC.
  2. Chafin, L.G. 2020. Species account for <i>Echinacea laevigata</i> for Georgia Department of Natural Resources website. https://georgiabiodiversity.org/natels/profile?es_id=22505 (accessed 2024).
  3. Collins, B., and Foré, S. 2009. Potential Role of Pollinators in Microhabitat Structure within a Large Population of <i>Echinacea laevigata</i> (Asteraceae). The Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society 136(4):445–456.
  4. Cronquist, A. 1980. Vascular flora of the southeastern United States. Vol. 1. Asteraceae. Univ. North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill. 261 pp.
  5. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2006c. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 21. Magnoliophyta: Asteridae, part 8: Asteraceae, part 3. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxii + 616 pp.
  6. Gaddy, L.L. 1991. The status of <i>Echinacea laevigata</i> (Boyton & Beadle) Blake. Cooperative agreement No. 14-16-0004-89-952 USFWS & NCDEHNR NHP.
  7. Kartesz, 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.
  8. Kral, R. 1983c. A report on some rare, threatened, or endangered forest-related vascular plants of the South. U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Forest Service Technical Publication R8-TP2, Athens, GA. 1305 pp.
  9. McGregor, R.L. 1968. The taxonomy of the genus Echinacea (Compositae). University of Kansas Science Bulletin 48(4): 113-142.
  10. McKeown, K.A. 1999. A review of the taxonomy of the genus <i>Echinacea</i>. Pages 482-489 in: J. Janick (ed.). Perspectives on new crops and new uses. ASHS Press, Alexandria, VA.
  11. McKeown, Kathleen A. North Carolina State University.
  12. NatureServe. 2024. NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia.
  13. Peters, M.D., Q. Xiang, D.T. Thomas, J. Stucky, and N.K. Whiteman. 2009. Genetic analyses of the federally endangered <i>Echinacea laevigata</i> using amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLP): Inferences in population genetic structure and mating system. Conservation Genetics 10(1):1-14.
  14. Radcliffe, Carrie. Personal Communication. Restoration Coordinator, Department of Science and Conservation, Atlanta Botanical Garden.
  15. Radford, A.E., H.E. Ahles, and C.R. Bell. 1968. Manual of the vascular flora of the Carolinas. Univ. North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, NC. 1183 pp.
  16. Southern Appalachian Species Viability Project. 2002. A partnership between the U.S. Forest Service-Region 8, Natural Heritage Programs in the Southeast, NatureServe, and independent scientists to develop and review data on 1300+ regionally and locally rare species in the Southern Appalachian and Alabama region. Database (Access 97) provided to the U.S. Forest Service by NatureServe, Durham, North Carolina.
  17. Ungberg, Eric. Personal communication. Lowcountry Botanist, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Heritage Trust Program, Georgetown, SC.
  18. United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2021. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Reclassifying Smooth Coneflower as Threatened With Section 4(d) Rule. Federal Register 86 FR 33159:33159-33176.
  19. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1992. <i>Echinacea laevigata</i> (smooth coneflower) determined to be endangered. Federal Register 57(196): 46340-46344.
  20. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2011. Smooth Coneflower (<i>Echinacea laevigata</i>) 5 Year Review: Summary and Evaluation. USFWS Southeast Region Raleigh Ecological Services Field Office Raleigh, North Carolina.
  21. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2022. Reclassification of Smooth Coneflower From Endangered To Threatened With a Section 4(d) Rule. Final rule. Federal Register 87(128): 40100-40115.
  22. Walker, Andrew. Personal Communication. Botanist, North Carolina Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh, North Carolina.
  23. Weakley, A.S., and Southeastern Flora Team. 2023. Flora of the southeastern United States. Edition of April 14, 2023. University of North Carolina Herbarium (NCU), North Carolina Botanical Garden, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. 2105 pp.