pale purple coneflower, Echinacea pallida

In bud, pale purple coneflower starts like this.  These spikey disc buds, and long thin rays are just about to bloom.  As they mature the disc opens, and the rays get wider and turn pinkish purple.  Mature rays tend to droop.  This prairie species makes a nice garden compliment to the common purple coneflower because it blooms a few weeks earlier.  The roots of various Echinacea species are popular as herbal remedies.  Although they don't really remedy anything, they put on a popular show.  Pale purple coneflowers grow in AL, AR, CT, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, NC, NE, ND, NY, OK, TN(T), TX, VA, WI(T), and ON.  Eastern populations are probably spread from gardens, or introduced in wildflower plantings.  Johnson Co IA, 6/15/13.  Aster family, Asteraceae.