Silphium integrifolium, known as rosinweed, shares some similarities to last month’s featured seed, prairie dock. In fact, prairie dock is often referred to as prairie rosinweed. Both of these perennial plants feature bright, yellow flowers. When cut or broken, their stems produce a resinous sap.   However, you shouldn’t expect traditional rosinweed, also known as whole-leaf rosinweed, to grow as tall as prairie dock. Typically, rosinweed stands 2-3 […]

Silphium terebinthinaceum, more commonly known as prairie dock, is a flowering plant that can be found in most of Illinois, along with select areas of Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, and Wisconsin. Some refer to it as prairie rosinweed, a name derived from the sweet-smelling resin it produces when cut. When fully grown, prairie dock can reach heights of 10 feet. Small, yellow flowers bloom at the tips of its stems, while

Silphium lacinatum is known by a number of names: pilotweed, gum weed, turpentine plant, and more. Its most popular name, however, is compass plant. Compass plant is a flowering plant native to eastern and central US and can often be found alongside big bluestem.   Like most plants in the Silphium genus, compass plant flowers have vibrant yellow petals that spread out from its center like sunrays.