Purple Coneflower, Lab Report Example

Purple coneflower, whose Latin name is Echinacea purpurea, is a member of the Aster family. It is a tall perennial with pink-purple blossoms and is native throughout much of the Eastern United States.  It is widely used in gardens and is primarily planted to attract hummingbirds and various species of butterflies (Missouri Botanical Garden 1).

Purple Coneflower: Ethnobotanically

Apart from its horticultural uses, however, Echinacea has a long ethnobotanical history. Various Native American tribes from the Great Plains used this for a variety of ailments including “toothache, coughs, colds, sore throats and snake bite” (US Department of Agriculture 4) and the Choctaw used it for gastro-intestinal ailments (4). Early European settlers in America also utilized this plant and it was a popular folk remedy for a variety of illnesses, both human and veterinary (5).

Today, it has many uses as well and these have been backed up by science. For one thing, it has proven antibiotic properties and functions by preventing bacterial formation of an enzyme which leaves the host’s cells more susceptible to infection (University of Texas, Austin 2). It has also been used as a stimulant to the immune system (US Department of Agriculture 2), most likely because it is believed to help improve the white blood cells (Missouri Botanical Garden 1).  It is also believed to have anti-inflammatory properties and had been used in a variety of medical specialties including urology, gynecology, internal medicine and dermatology (US Department of Agriculture).

So purple coneflower is not just another pretty plant in the garden. It has a long history of use, from Native Americans to early American settlers to modern day medical treatment.

Works Cited

“Echinacea Purpurea”, Missouri Botanical Gardens Website. 2013. Web. 15 April 2014.

“Purple Coneflower”, National Plant Database at the University of Texas, Austin. 2012. Web. 15 April 2014.

“Purple Coneflower”. US Department of Agriculture, Natural Resource Conservation Science Lab. 2012. Web. 15 April 2014.