Echinacea leaf, cut

Echinacea purpurea, the eastern purple coneflower, purple coneflower, hedgehog coneflower, or echinacea, is a North American species of flowering plant in the sunflower family. It is native to parts of eastern North America and present to some extent in the wild in much of the eastern, southeastern and midwestern United States as well as in the Canadian Province of Ontario.

Echinacea has a long history of use by many alternative traditions. Its use is believed to have originated with the North American Plains Indians, but in more recent times, echinacea purpurea was noted among the group of organic herbs and spices also used in European traditional medicine. The infusion is somewhat dry with notes of asparagus.

• Botanical Name: Echinacea purpurea
  
• Region: Provence, France
• Altitude: 60 - 250 m