This native perennial has upright stems 1-2 feet tall covered with short, bristly hairs (A,B). Narrow, prominently veined basal leaves are up to 10 inches long and less than 2 inches wide (A). The alternate upper leaves become scarce and progressively smaller above. Single flower heads at the top of the stem have pale pink to pale purple, spreading, infertile petal-like ray florets up to 1 1/2 inches long. They surround a reddish-brown central disk of fertile florets with yellow pollen (D) and prominent sharp-tipped bracts which persist long after flowering (E).
Grows on drier, well-drained soils in upland prairie sites, flowering in June and July. At Neale Woods, it is uncommon in the Jonas Prairie restoration.
This coneflower and the closely related Echinacea pallida share many characteristics, and in fact, not all authorities agree they are separate species. Most plants in Jonas Prairie are more characteristic of Echinacea pallida, but there are a few shorter plants with ray flowers less than 1 1/2 inches long and disk florets bearing yellow pollen more consistent with Echinacea angustifolia.
Black Samson is another common name for this species.
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