Nutrition
Like all other
plants, Echinacea purpurea undergoes the process of
photosynthesis in order to produce energy. This proc
ess
occurs in the chloroplasts of plant cells and is a critical
component to a
plant's survival. The purple coneflower is an autotrophic organism, making photosynthesis its primary source
of nutrition. The process of photosynthesis is when an
organism uses energy from the sun to produce sugars.
To learn about another photosynthetic organism, the Northern
Maidenhair Fern, click
here.
Besides photosynthesis, Echinacea purpurea also absorbs various nutrients and water through its roots where it is t
ransported
throughout the plant via specialized cells called xylem and
phloem. To learn about the Silver Maple, another organism
that contains xylem and phloem, click
here.
Besides these two main vascular tissue cells, land
plants have adapted over time and developed stomata which are small mechanisms that help regulate the flow of water and
different gases in and out of the plant. The
best pH range for this plant is around 6-7 pH. This allows for the best release of
nutrients and gases. All of the unused nutrients are
stored in the form of glucose, preferably cellulose or starch.
Click here to continue on to
reproduction.
If you would like to have a more
detailed description of water and mineral movement throughout a
plant, visit
Transport of Water and Minerals in
Plants.