Urania Calling

The yellow coneflower (specifically echinacea paradoxa, one of two coneflower variants) is described as "a tall, elegant burst of sunshine." The "paradoxa" in their scientific name refers to their yellow petals, a rarity among their non-paradoxical sisters whose blooms are pink and purple.

Their medicinal value is both a blessing and a curse. Sold as "echinacea," they're meant to boost immunity and help fight common colds. However, over-harvesting has lead to a major decline in population. They're currently in the "threatened" status on the endangered scale, which is admittedly of lesser concern than something that's nearly extinct, but this is not a competition of who is more or less extinct. It's a team effort to move all species out of danger entirely.

The Ozark Society Foundation, established in 1975, supports conservation and nature education for the local community, that being the Ozark-Ouachita mountains and surrounding lowlands. See more about this organization here: https://arkansasee.org/ozark-society-foundation/