Each leaf arches upward and is 5–10 cm long with a pointed tip.

The Tennessee coneflower (Echinacea tennesseensis) population at STRI is one of five remaining (USFWS 1989).

[2] Reasons to explain the endangered status of S. secundifolia include erosion-related water quality degradation, silting and turbidity, resulting from residential or recreational development, as well as surface mining, agriculture, and forest conversion.

Another issue is water pollution from garbage dumping and leaking sewage systems.

Water impoundments and offroad vehicle traffic also causes great harm to the species.