Compass Plant: Silphium
laciniatum : Asteraceae
Compass Plant © RSWacha, 1998
Description:
Flowering heads have from 15 to 30 yellow ray flowers, surrounding a central cluster of yellow disc flowers. Involucral bracts are hairy, large, and broadly ovate, with pronounced recurved-tips that taper to a long, narrow point. Flowering heads are distributed sparsely along the upper stem, which has a "zig-zag" appearance. the stem is rough. The main leaves are highly lobed, almost to the point of being compound, and occur on the lower part of the stem. The leaves attach individually, by a conspicuous, non-winged petiole. The edges of the lobed leaves are generally aligned in a north-south direction, hence the name compass plant. The flat surfaces of the leaves face east and west. Areas where compass plants are found are assumed to be remnants of native prairie. However, compass plants may also occur in prairie plantings or reconstructed sites, such as Red Feather Prairie at Saylorville Lake. Blooms from July into September. Native to N. A.