Distinguishing Echinacea pallida & purpurea during winter

Discussion in 'Plants: Identification' started by coelacanth, Mar 31, 2012.

  1. coelacanth

    coelacanth Active Member

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    How can you tell them apart by their seed heads?
     
    coelacanth, Mar 31, 2012
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  2. wrygrass2

    wrygrass2 Active Member 10 Years

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    The following page shows pictures of the seedheads and of the seeds. I couldn't readily determine the difference of the seed heads but perhaps there is enough variation in the seeds to determine it, if any are left at this time of year.http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/~kenr/prairieplants.E.html
     
    wrygrass2, Apr 1, 2012
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  3. coelacanth

    coelacanth Active Member

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    Hmmm, this is helpful. Prairie Moon also has great seed photos and confirms that E. purpurea lacks the dark band that is on E. pallida seeds.

    E. pallida: http://www.prairiemoon.com/image.php?id=929&type=D
    E. purpurea:http://www.prairiemoon.com/image.php?id=931&type=D

    I just have a photo from my visit, will have to check back to see if any seeds remain.

    Thanks!
     
    coelacanth, Apr 1, 2012
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