Silphium perfoliatum
| Cup Plant | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Tribe: | Heliantheae |
| Genus: | Silphium |
| Species: | S. perfoliatum |
| Binomial name | |
| Silphium perfoliatum L. |
|
Silphium perfoliatum is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant in Asteraceae, the aster family, it is native from Eastern and Central North America. It grows in prairies, open woodlands, and on stream banks.
There are two varieties: Silphium perfoliatum var. connatum and Silphium perfoliatum var. perfoliatum .[1]
Contents |
[edit] History
The species Silphium perfoliatum is native to North America. During 1750, the species was introduced to the UK and Soviet Union and since then it is still prized as an ornamental plant. It is found in open prairies clearings in bottomland woods. In 1759, Carl Linnaeus named the plant.[2] The genus name, Silphium, is derived from the Greek word referring to a resinous juice. The species name, perfoliatum, means "through the leaf." [3] The species is found natively on the East Coast of the United States and Canada. During 1957, it was considered to have potential as a low maintenance fodder crop for livestock feeding because it is a long-lived perennial herb. It contains high levels of protein. It is considered to have a high feed value for meat and milk production for farm animals.[2] The plant has an extensive root system and does not transplant well except when very young.[2] The plant is listed as a threatened species in Michigan. [4]
[edit] Common names
Cup Plant, Carpenter’s weed, cup rosinweed,[5] compass plant, pilot weed, squareweed,[2] Indian-cup [6]
[edit] Description
Silphium perfoliatum is an herbaceous perennial. A typical height this plant grows ranges from 1-2.5 m. The stem is square and glabrous. The stout, smooth, slightly hairy stem is strongly 4-angled.[6] The leaves are in an opposite arrangement. The leaves are toothed and ovate leaf shape.[7] The petioles are widely winged. The petioles’ base is at the stem and it is fused with its opposite in its pair that form a cup where the stem is located. The stem terminates in a single flower bud.[2] All other species of Silphium present in Michigan does not have the fused leaf bases of cup plant.[6]
The ray florets are a rich, golden yellow color. The flowers look very similar to a sunflower. The flowers usually measure about 2.5 cm in diameter. In the middle of the flower, there are small tubular disk flowers that are sterile.[5] The disk flowers are perfect flowers but do not produce fruit. The corollas are tubular, 5 toothed, and the style is undivided.[8] The disk florets are structurally bisexual, but the stamens are the only fertile part. The ray florets have female characteristics.[2]
The ray florets eventually develop to become thin achenes. The brown achenes have possesses a marginal wing, that utilize the wind for dispersal. Silphium perfoliatum are able to establish colonies due to its central taproot system and shallow rhizomes.
[9] A multi-rhizomed clone originating from one seed have been observed to be 15 years old. The roots found in botanical gardens have been estimated to be more than 50 years old.[2]
The species’ optimal flower growth is during July through September.[8] The mature fruits are produced by the plant by October.[6] Insect pollinators including bees, bees, butterflies, and skippers help to cross-fertilize flowers to produce seeds. Approximately twenty to thirty seeds are created in each flower head. One seed is about 9 to 15 mm long, 6–9 mm wide, flattened in shape, and a thickness of 1mm.[2] It grows in sandy moist bottomlands, floodplains, near streambeds, in or adjacent to open woodland.[2] The plant metabolizes by the Type C3 Pathway. This plant is highly adapted to endure extreme weather and natural inhospitable conditions. For example, during the winter, the roots remain dormant and can survive up to -30 degree Celsius weather. Under flooding, it can stay alive for about 10 to 15 days. Its optimal growing temperature is 20 degree Celsius.[2]
[edit] Distribution
Currently, it can be found in the following states: USA (AL, AR, CT, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, SD, TN, VA, VT, WI, WV), CAN (ON, QC) [10]
[edit] Uses
The plant produces a resin that has an odor similar to turpentine.[11] The plant contains a gum and resin; the root has been used medicinally.[3] The resin has been made into chewing gum to prevent nausea and vomiting.[5] Native Americans would cut off the top of the plant stalk and collect the resinous sap that was emitted from the plant. The resin was used for a chewing gum to freshen breath. The Winnebagos Tribe believed that a potion made from the rhizome would provide supernatural powers. The people belonging to the tribe would drink this potion before hunting.[5] The people of the Chippewas tribe used the root extract for back and chest pains, to prevent excessive menstruation, and to treat lung hemorrhage.[12] During the spring, the tender young leaves were cultivated as an acceptable food source by cooking or a salad.[5] The powdered form of Silphium perfoliatum L. has diaphoretic and tonic properties. It can help alleviate the symptoms of fevers, dry cough, asthma, spleen illness, heart and liver disease. The extract from the leaves of the plant has shown to lower cholesterol and triglycerides levels in blood. Studies show that the presence of phenolic acids is responsible for the species’ antiseptic activity to stimulate generation of IgG and IgM antibodies. In addition, it stimulates bile production of the gall bladder. [13]
The Silphium perfoliatum L. plant contains amino acids, carbohydrates (inulinin rhizomes), L-ascorbic acid, terpenes with essential oils, triterpene saponins, carotenoids, phenolic acid, tannins, and flavonoids.[11]
The long blossoming season and abundance of flowers provides a rich source for bees and the cultivation of honey.[2]
[edit] Disease and Herbivory
This species can be targeted by a fungus called Sclerotinia during the summer. During cool temperatures in autumn, the fungus Botrytis will cause the flower buds to wilt and turn black before blooming.[2] Eggs of the Gall wasp are deposited within the stems of this plant. Consequently, the developing larvae feed within the stems. Goldfinches feed on the seeds of Silphium perfoliatum and drink the water collected by the “cups” on the stems. The fact that this species is able to form dense colonies, it provides a good shelter for birds. Herbivores such as cattle and sheep will eat the leaves the plant especially those of young plants. [14]
[edit] External links
- USDA NRCS Plant Database
- Britton & Brown Illustrated Flora - 2nd Edition (1913) "An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada"
[edit] References
- ^ ITIS Standard Report Page: Silphium perfoliatum var. connatum
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Stanford, Geoffrey. “Silphium perfoliatum (Cup-Plant) as a New Forage.” Proceedings of the Twelfth North American Prairie Conference. Vol. 12, x. 218, pp. 33-38 1990.15 May 2011 < http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/EcoNatRes/EcoNatRes-idx?type=article&did=EcoNatRes.NAPC12.GStanford&id=EcoNatRes.NAPC12&isize=M&pview=hide>.
- ^ a b “Plants of the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden.” Friends of the Wild Flowers. 2008. 15 May 2011. http://www.friendsofthewildflowergarden.org/pages/plants/cupplant.html>.
- ^ Reznicek, A.A.; Voss, E.G., & Walters, B.S.. "Michigan Flora Online: Silphium perfoliatum L." (Web.). Silphium perfoliatum L.. University of Michigan. http://michiganflora.net/species.aspx?id=447. Retrieved 15 May 2011.
- ^ a b c d e Favorite, Jamie. “Plant Guide: Cup Plant Silphium perfoliatum L. ” USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center. Web. 2002. 15 May 2010.<http:// plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/cs_sipec2.pdf>.
- ^ a b c d Penskar, M.R.; Crispin, S.R. (2010). [web4.msue.msu.edu/mnfi/abstracts/botany/Silphium_perfoliatum.pdf "Silphium perfoliatum L. (cup plant)"] (pdf). Special Plant Abstract for Silphium perfoliatum. Lansing, MI: Michigan Natural Features Inventory.. pp. 1–3. web4.msue.msu.edu/mnfi/abstracts/botany/Silphium_perfoliatum.pdf. Retrieved 15 May 2011.
- ^ “Silphium perfoliatum” Invasive Plant Atlas of New England. Web. 2009. 15 May 2010.<http://nbii-nin.ciesin.columbia.edu/ipane/icat/browse.do?specieId=95>.
- ^ a b Britton, N. and Brown, A. ‘’An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada.’’ Vol. III. New York: C. Scribner's sons. 1913.ISBN 0486226441.
- ^ Hilty, John. “Silphium perfoliatum L. Comprehensive Description.” Encyclopedia of Life. Web. 2010. 15 May 2010.<http://www.eol.org/pages/509359>.
- ^ "Plant Profile: Silphium perfoliatum L. ” USDA. 15 May 2010.<http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=SIPE2&photoID=sipe2_005_ahp.tif>.
- ^ a b Kowalski, R.; Wolski, T. (20). "The chemical composition of essential oils of Silphium perfoliatum L.". Flavour and Fragrance Journal 20 (3): 306–310. doi:10.1002/ffj.1418.
- ^ Lindsey, Christopher. "Silphium perfoliatum L.". Plant Profiles. Mallorn Computing, Inc.. http://www.hort.net/profile/ast/silpe/. Retrieved 15 May 2011.
- ^ Wojcinska, Malgorzata; Drost-Karbowska, Krystyna (1998). "Phenolic Acids in Silphium Perfoliatum L. Flowers". Acta Poloniae Pharmaceutica- Drug Research 55 (5): 413–416.
- ^ Hilty, John. "CupPlant". Prairie Wildflowers of Illinois. http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/cupplantx.htm. Retrieved 15 May 2011.
