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Silphium perfoliatum Linnaeus. Common Cup-plant. Phen: Jun-Sep. Hab: Floodplain forests and openings, especially over calcareous substrates; sometimes escaped from cultivation. Dist: VT, ON, and ND south to sc. NC, AL, and TX.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Synonymy ⓘ: = F, GrPl, Il, Mi, Oh3, RAB, S, Tn, WV, Perry (1937); = n/a – Tat; = Silphium perfoliatum L. ssp. perfoliatum – Cruden (1962); = Silphium perfoliatum L. var. perfoliatum – Ar, C, FNA21, K1, K3, K4, NE, NY, Pa, SE1, Va; < Silphium perfoliatum L. – G, W

Links to other floras: = Silphium perfoliatum var. perfoliatum - FNA21

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FAC
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FAC (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
  • Great Plains: FAC (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
  • Midwest: FACW (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
  • Northcentral & Northeast: FACW (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)

Heliophily ⓘ: 8

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image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Grant Morrow Parkins | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Coarse, erect perennial found in floodplain forests and openings; sometimes escaped from cultivation.

Stems: Stems stout, 4-sided, unbranched and smooth, exuding a gummy sap when broken.

Leaves: Leaves opposite, sessile, at least the upper ones joined together at the base so that the stem appears to pierce each pair (with the resultant "cup" able to hold water), oval to broadly lance-shaped, 6-14 in. long, coarsely toothed and rough-surfaced.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Composite flowers (heads) on stalks in branching, terminal cluster; heads 2-3 in. wide, consisting of 16-35 yellow ray florets encircling a center disk of darker yellow, tubular florets.

Fruits: Fruit a thin, winged achene.

Comments: Silphium connatum (or S. perfoliatum var. connatum) was recently split from S. perfoliatum and differs by usually having fewer ray florets (8-13) and spreading hairs on stems; its distribution and status are incompletely known.

Height: 4-8 ft.

plant sale text:

bloom table text:

description: Coarse, erect perennial found in floodplain forests and openings; sometimes escaped from cultivation.

stems: Stems stout, 4-sided, unbranched and smooth, exuding a gummy sap when broken.

leaves: Leaves opposite, sessile, at least the upper ones joined together at the base so that the stem appears to pierce each pair (with the resultant "cup" able to hold water), oval to broadly lance-shaped, 6-14 in. long, coarsely toothed and rough-surfaced.

inflorescence:

flowers: Composite flowers (heads) on stalks in branching, terminal cluster; heads 2-3 in. wide, consisting of 16-35 yellow ray florets encircling a center disk of darker yellow, tubular florets.

fruits: Fruit a thin, winged achene.

comments: Silphium connatum (or S. perfoliatum var. connatum) was recently split from S. perfoliatum and differs by usually having fewer ray florets (8-13) and spreading hairs on stems; its distribution and status are incompletely known.

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range: eastern North America