The Coneflower's latin name is derived from the Greek word ekhinos, meaning "hedgehog," due to its central spiny disk . This flower, related to the daisy, is native to eastern and central North America, where it grows in moist to dry prairies and open wooded areas. Echinacea purpurea has a reputation in folk medicine for its therapeutic qualities based on is usage by the North American Plains tribes. Some Plains tribes did use echinacea for cold symptoms. The Kiowa used it for coughs and sore throats, the Cheyenne for sore throats, the Pawnee for headaches, and many tribes including the Lakota used it as a pain medication.