Echinacea laevigata (C.L. Boynton & Beadle) S.F. Blake. Smooth Purple Coneflower. Phen: Mate May-Jul. Hab: Open woodlands and glades over mafic or calcareous rocks, such as diabase, limestone, and dolostone, rarely in oak-pine savannas of the upper Coastal Plain over circumneutral clay sediments. Dist: c. and w. VA south through c. NC to c. and w. SC and ne. GA; disjunct in Piedmont of PA (where extirpated).

Origin/Endemic status: Endemic

Taxonomy Comments: The species is an eastern sibling of E. purpurea.

Other Comments: In NC, this attractive, medicinal plant is now limited to a few populations in Durham, Granville, and Rockingham counties. Extensive populations occur over Elbrook Dolomite in Montgomery, VA. Populations of this species in sandy soils of the Coastal Plain of SC have been variously interpreted as native or introduced (Nelson & Kelly 1997). Discovered in 2012 at Fort Stewart, GA.

Synonymy: = C, F, FNA21, K1, K3, K4, Pa, RAB, S, SE1, Va, W, Binns, Baum, & Arnason (2002), Foster (1991), McGregor (1968), McKeown (1999); = Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench var. laevigata (C.L.Boynton & Beadle) Cronquist – G

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Wetland Indicator Status:

• Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU
• Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU

Heliophily: 8