Silphium laciniatum

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Silphium laciniatum
Conservation status
Secure (TNC)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Asterales Family: Asteraceae Tribe: Heliantheae Genus: Silphium Species: S. laciniatum
Binomial name
Silphium laciniatum L.

Silphium laciniatum (Compass Flower, Compass Plant or Rosinweed) is a species of flowering plant in the genus Silphium. It is native to east-central North America, from southern Ontario and New York south to Alabama and west across the prairies to North Dakota and Colorado south to Texas.

It is a perennial herbaceous plant similar in appearance to a sunflower, growing to 1-4 m tall, with bristly-hairy stems. The leaves are alternately arranged, and deeply pinnately lobed; the basal leaves up to 40 cm long, becoming smaller higher up the stem. The flowers are produced in flowerheads (capitula) 5-12 cm diameter, with a ring of ray florets surrounding the 2-3 cm diameter center of disc florets. Flowering is in late summer, typically from July to September.

Compass plants are so named because they tend to align their foliage north and south to present the minimum surface area to the hot noon sunshine. The taproot of the compass plant may grow to more than 9-14 ft. deep, making it hardy and resistant to drought.

The plant was used in Native American herbal medicine as a vermifuge, and to treat coughs and asthma.

[edit] References

• Blanchan, Neltje (2002). Wild Flowers: An Aid to Knowledge of our Wild Flowers and their Insect Visitors. Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. 
• Flora of North America: profile and map: Silphium laciniatum
• Germplasm Resources Information Network: Silphium laciniatum
• TSN 38401. Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
• Missouriplants: Silphium laciniatum
• Plants for a Future: Silphium laciniatum
• USDA Plant Profile: Silphium laciniatum
• Weaver, J.E. 1958. Classification of Root Systems of Forbs of Grassland and a Consideration of Their Significance. Ecology, Vol. 39, No. 3. pp. 394-401.