coneflower

 Echinacea (coneflower)  The name is derived from the Greek word echino meaning sea urchin, which the central petals resemble.
There are still a few blooms in my garden even though cool weather is beginning to come on strongly.

Wordless Wednesday--where I linked up: 

The Art and Tree Chatter of Aquariann

Create With Joy

  

photo by me © 2013  all rights reserved

Echinacea: Today's Flowers

Echinacea purpurea (coneflower)

Named for the prickly scales in its large conical seed head, the herb resembles the spines of an angry hedgehog.  Echinos is Greek for hedgehog.

See more of Today's Flowers HERE.

LINKS and INFORMATION:

▪ Echinacea and Bee  This is a much better photo!

▪ basic information

▪ garden guides.com
▪ attracts bees, butterflys, birds

▪ Native American medicinal plant, used to treat upper respiratory tract infection.  Echinacea contains several chemicals that play a role in its therapeutic effects--polysaccharides, glycoproteins, alkamides, volatile oils, and flavonoids. (Science is not in complete agreement on its effectiveness.)

▪ garden guides medicinal information

▪ perennial which blooms mid-summer through early Fall, zones 3-9, full sun to part shade  (I grew mine from seed, and it has very slowly self-seeded over time.)

photos by me © 2009