Search / Plant Profile / Echinacea tennesseensis

Plant Profile

Tennessee Coneflower (Echinacea tennesseensis)

The bright pink-petaled flower of Echinacea tennesseensis. Photo Credit: Casey Galvin

Global Rank: G2 - Imperiled
Legal Status: N/A
Family: Asteraceae
State: TN
Nature Serve ID: 159601
Lifeform: Forb/herb
Date Inducted in National Collection: 02/10/1987

Description:

The Tennessee coneflower is one of the nation's rarest wildflowers (Clark 2000). Known only from five populations within a 14 mile radius in Middle Tennessee, it was the second plant listed as endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in June 1979 (USFWS 1989). First listed in the Flora of Tennessee in 1906, the plant was thought to be extinct for half a century until it was rediscovered in 1968 in LaVergne (near Nashville) (USFWS 1989). This site was destroyed by the construction of a trailer park in the 1970's. Two other colonies, discovered in 1972, were destroyed prior to 1975 by housing developments (Shea 1997). The story above illustrates the major threat to E. tennesseensis; Nashville and the surrounding area is undergoing rapid development, encroaching on the coneflower's habitat. Recently, one site was destroyed by the development of the Nashville Superspeedway that opened in 2001.

Where is Tennessee Coneflower (Echinacea tennesseensis) located in the wild?

Habitat:

Cedar glades dominated by red cedar and where the limestone bedrock is either exposed or covered by a thin layer of soil (USFWS 1989).E. tennesseensis is often found with Juniperus virginiana, Petalostemon gattingeri, and Sporobolus vaginiflorus (USFWS 1989).

Distribution:

Populations are distributed among three counties in Tennessee (USFWS 1989, Kartesz 1996).

States & Provinces:

Tennessee Coneflower can be found in Tennessee

Which CPC Partners conserve Tennessee Coneflower (Echinacea tennesseensis)?

Missouri Botanical Garden

Conservation Actions

Matthew Albrecht

11/30/2022

On October 14, 2021, Noah Dell, Matthew Albrecht, and Brad Delfeld of the Missouri Botanical Garden collected seeds of Echinacea tennesseensis for the IMLS Seed Longevity Project. While E. tennesseensis is no longer a federally listed species, having been delisted in 2011, (as the species was readily reintroduced on limestone glades by seed dispersal) it is endemic to Tennessee's Central Basin and remains a species of conservation concern. We collected 1395 seeds from 75 individual plants and sent 800 seeds to the National Laboratory for Genetic Resource Preservation. The remaining seeds are being maintained at MBG for long-term storage.

Photo Credit: Matthew Albrecht (2014)

Center for Plant Conservation

12/02/2021

One of our natural populations was going to be extirpated. The TN Department of Environment and Conservation needed to establish a new population with the seed source from the extirpated population. We contracted with the CPC at MOBOT to propagate TN coneflower plants from seeds. The plants were then transplanted at property owned by the US Army Corps of Engineers in the vicinity of the extirpated population. The population at the NPS property was planted in the 1970s by a University Professor. The chosen site was within the range of the species and contained similar habitat. The plants at this site have been monitored for many years.

Center for Plant Conservation

12/02/2021

One of our natural populations was going to be extirpated. We needed to establish a new population with the seed source from the extirpated population. We contracted with the CPC at MOBOT to propagate TN coneflower plants from seeds. The plants were then transplanted at property owned by the US Army Corps of Engineers in the vicinity of the extirpated population. The population at the NPS property was planted in the 1970s by a University Professor. The chosen site was within the range of the species and contained similar habitat. The plants at this site have been monitored for many years.

Center for Plant Conservation

08/18/2021

In 2021, CPC contracted the Missouri Botanical Garden to recollect seed from a population currently held in long term orthodox seed storage as part of an IMLS-funded seed longevity experiment. The National Laboratory for Genetic Resources Preservation will evaluate how germination tested viability and RNA Integrity of seed lots decline over time in storage.

09/09/2020

Seed harvesting and storage

09/09/2020

Seed harvesting and storage

09/09/2020

Past and current research has been completed in the areas of: Determination of competitive ability and growth characteristics (Hemmely 1976, Baskauf and Eickmeier 1994, Snyder et al. 1994). Comparing traits of E. tennesseensis with other members of the genus that are widespread (McGregor 1968, McKeown 1999) Methods of propagation.

09/09/2020

09/09/2020

Nature Serve Biotics

05/02/2017

Five extant populations endemic to the limestone cedar glades of the Central Basin of Tennessee. This limited, specialized habitat is threatened by rapid residential development of the area. Fire suppression has also restricted the spread of populations. On the other hand, the species has been successfully reintroduced in its native habitat and seems stable and possibly increasing.

Kimberlie McCue, Ph.D.

01/01/2010

Five populations, individuals can range from 2,000 to 100,000 plants (USFWS 1989).

Kimberlie McCue, Ph.D.

01/01/2010

Kimberlie McCue, Ph.D.

01/01/2010

Establishing new populations in protected areas of existing cedar glade habitat. Attempts to purchase privately-owned land where the species is present. There are 3 colonies on state-owned land, and are managed by the State Divisions of Forestry and Ecological Services. These populations are zoned as restricted areas where no timber management is supposed to occur. The involved state divisions have also indicated willingness to assist with any habitat maintenance or experimental manipulations.

Kimberlie McCue, Ph.D.

01/01/2010

Research and management needs include analyzing the role light and water have on population dynamics, reproductive biology and ecology and the affects of intra- and inter-specific competition.

Kimberlie McCue, Ph.D.

01/01/2010

Seed harvesting and storage

Kimberlie McCue, Ph.D.

01/01/2010

Threats include commercial and residential development, use of off-road vehicles, livestock grazing, hybridization with other Echinacea species and fire suppression (USFWS 1989).