Echinacea

The flower head of the coneflower has a characteristically upward-curved receptacle towards the centre. Additionally, the brown, domed inner part of the head is covered with spiny bristles, giving it the shape and character of a hedgehog in a defensive posture. This feature gave the genus its botanical name Echinacea (from the Greek echinos, hedgehog). The English name “Cone Flower” also refers to the conical curved flower base, as does the German name “Sonnenhut”, which describes the sombrero-like shape of the flower in the mid-flowering stage (see below).

The marginal purple ray florets perform a movement of around 180 degrees during flower development. At the beginning, when the flower is just opening, they stand straight upwards, are still narrowly rolled up, short and barely coloured. At this point, the flower base is not yet curved. Later, the ray florets tilt to the horizontal and reach their full size and colour.

At this stage, the flower base begins to curve upwards and becomes increasingly spiky. The flower head now has the shape of a sombrero. Subsequently, the ray florets begin to tilt downwards until they stand vertically down at full bloom, shielding both the calyx and the flower stalk. Notably, the calyx hides from view through this gesture of the ray florets.

The calyx is the outermost part or the skin of a flower, as it forms the bud's outer covering at the beginning of the flower's existence. With its radiant, purple petals and the highly domed centre of the flower heads, the coneflower is a beautiful, proud flower. Its scent is light, unobtrusive and at the same time very nuanced and noble. Far from any heaviness or sweetness, this fragrance conveys something elevated.

The character of aloofness sensed from sight and smell is confirmed upon touch. Besides the hedgehog-like bristliness of the flower base, it is expressed in the rough, scratchy surface of the leaves and stem, which one does not notice on the well-formed plant but is clearly evident when touched. This feature also underlines a plant personality focused on shielding and allowing nothing to come near. Chewing a piece of root, a flower or a leaf of the plant, or taking a few drops of the mother tincture directly onto the tongue, reveals a somewhat sharp taste that leaves a furry feeling and a slight anaesthetising effect.

This is the effect of the isobutylamides, a class of ingredients found in all parts of the plant in varying concentrations. Shielding and aloofness are the essential qualities that we can recognise in the shaping forces of the plant. Such a character is easily associated with the well-known strengthening of the body’s own defence system by Echinacea extracts. The immune system is the biological defence mechanism that prevents pathogens from entering, multiplying, and spreading.

The functional principle of the immune system is thus shielding, so that pathogenic microorganisms do not get too close. Leaves and stems are rough-haired. In this area, Echinacea also unfolds its psychological effect. Its essence, focused on shielding and aloofness, supports our soul in letting trivial attacks and irritations flow away or bounce off us.

The essence of Echinacea grants us a kind of protective skin, a suit of armour or knight’s armour, thereby keeping all arrows away from us. It helps us overlook, not perceive, or disregard the unimportant. Just as the immune system constantly keeps countless pathogens at bay without our conscious involvement, the resourceful psyche ignores emotional irritations that are not relevant to us at the moment. In this, Echinacea provides support.