Silphium perfoliatum
Silphium perfoliatum, commonly known as Cup Plant, is a striking perennial native to North American prairies. Renowned for its large, bowl-shaped leaves that collect rainwater, this botanical marvel offers ecological benefits. While primarily valued by pollinators, its unique structure and hardy nature make it a fascinating subject in herbalism.
- Scientific name: Silphium perfoliatum
- Family: Asteraceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Under the subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified in the order Asterales and falls within the family Asteraceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Silphium.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Asterales | WCVP |
| Family | Asteraceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Silphium | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Silphium perfoliatum, is known by various regional names across different languages. In German, it is referred to as Durchwachsene Silphie, while in Swedish, it is called Skålört. Its names in other languages include 串叶松香草 in Chinese, csészekóró in Hungarian, and mužák prorostlý in Czech.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| de | Durchwachsene Silphie | Wikidata |
| sv | Skålört | Wikidata |
| zh | 串叶松香草 | Wikidata |
| hu | csészekóró | Wikidata |
| cs | mužák prorostlý | Wikidata |
| sk | silfia prerastená | Wikidata |
| de | Becherpflanze | Wikidata |
| hu | óriás szilfium | Wikidata |
| hu | átnőttlevelű szilfium | Wikidata |
| hu | rózsagyom | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific distribution across various regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its presence can be documented within the borders of Norway. Moving toward Middle Europe, the species is found in the landscapes of Austria and Belgium. It also maintains a consistent presence throughout the territory of Germany. Finally, the geographical range of this medicinal plant extends further into Poland.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Norway | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Belgium | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Poland | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Switzerland | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | France | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Bulgaria | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Italy | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Romania | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Silphium perfoliatum, commonly known as cup plant, possesses distinct anatomical features that serve various ecological roles. Its large, green leaves are notable for being perfoliate, meaning they appear to wrap around the stem, creating a cup-like structure that often collects rainwater. Additionally, the plant produces abundant pollen within its bright yellow flower heads, which serves as a vital nutritional resource for a wide variety of pollinating insects.- Total parts
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| pollen | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Silphium perfoliatum has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include chlorosilphanol A, silphanepoxol.
- Total chemicals
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| chlorosilphanol A | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| silphanepoxol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |