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Botany Coneflowers English Gardening Horticulture Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

Differences Between Echinacea and Rudbeckia

The genera Echinacea and Rudbeckia are closely related, both belonging to the Asteraceae family, but they exhibit some key genetic and morphological differences that warrant their classification into separate genera.

Purple Coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea) were first Rudbeckia purpea, and it’s easy to see why, yet DNA analysis proves differing genetics.
Orange Coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida).

Genetic Differences:

  1. DNA Analysis: Genetic studies, particularly molecular phylogenetic analyses, have revealed enough differences at the DNA level to categorize them as distinct genera. These differences can relate to various genes responsible for flowering, resistance to disease, and other traits.
  2. Chromosomal Differences: Though detailed karyotypic information may be limited, differences in chromosome numbers and structure could exist between the two genera.

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