cup plant

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• cup plant
• cup-leaved rosinweed
• Cup-plant
• Indian cup-plant
• Indian-gum
• silphie
• silphium

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Silphium quadrangulum
• Silphium scabrum
• Silphium tetragonum
• Silphium perfoliatum f. petiolatum
• Silphium petiolatum
• Silphium perfoliatum var. conjunctum
• Resinocaulon perfoliatum
• Silphium perfoliatum f. hornemannii
• Silphium conjunctum
• Silphium erythrocaulon
• Silphium hornemannii

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

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.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

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.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Silphium perfoliatum is defined by its specialized preference for wetland environments, where it thrives in habitats characterized by high moisture availability and saturated soils. It is most commonly found in riparian zones, along the margins of marshes, swamps, and lake shores, as well as in wet meadows and ditches. These habitats provide the constant hydration and alluvial soil nutrients necessary for its vigorous growth. Within these ecosystems, the plant plays a vital role in supporting local biodiversity; its unique perfoliate leaves, which encircle the stem, often collect rainwater, creating micro-habitats for small invertebrates. Furthermore, its tall, robust stature and prolific production of bright yellow composite flowers make it a critical resource for a wide array of pollinators, including various species of bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects, thereby integrating it deeply into the trophic structures of wetland communities.

Habitat :

?

Life history

The life history of Silphium perfoliatum is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons by establishing robust root systems. Structurally, the plant is classified as a hemicryptophyte, a life form in which the perennating buds are located at or just below the soil surface, protected by the remains of previous seasons' foliage or the substrate itself. This growth strategy enables the plant to survive unfavorable environmental conditions and emerge vigorously once favorable conditions return, ensuring its long-term presence within its native ecological niche.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Silphium perfoliatum is characterized by a growth form classified as both a herb and a forb, presenting a non-woody structure. This self-supporting plant reaches a significant stature, with a height that typically ranges from a minimum of 1 m to a maximum of 2.5 m, maintaining a mean height of approximately 1.8 m. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit aquatic or epiphytic tendencies, nor does it function as a climber, such as a vine or liana, as it remains entirely self-supporting. Furthermore, the plant grows as an independent organism, showing no parasitic behavior.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2.5 m

Plant height mean:

1.8 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Silphium perfoliatum is characterized by its efficient metabolic processes adapted to temperate wetland and prairie environments, most notably through its utilization of the C3 photosynthetic pathway. As a C3 plant, it fixes carbon dioxide directly through the Calvin cycle using the enzyme RuBisCO, a strategy that is highly effective in the moist, sun-drenched habitats where it typically thrives. This metabolic approach allows the plant to maximize biomass production during the peak growing season, supporting its robust structural development and large leaf surface area. To complement its carbon fixation, the plant exhibits specialized physiological adaptations for water management, including high transpiration rates and a deep, extensive root system that facilitates nutrient uptake and maintains hydraulic conductivity, ensuring sustained physiological activity even during fluctuations in soil moisture levels.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Silphium perfoliatum is characterized by a specific seasonal flowering window and distinct seed characteristics. The flowering period typically commences in July and extends through September. Following pollination, the plant produces seeds that exhibit a highly uniform mass, with a mean, maximum, and minimum seed mass all recorded at 0.00685 g. Regarding the movement of its offspring, the species exhibits an anthropochorous dispersal syndrome, meaning its seeds are primarily dispersed through human activity.

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Sep

Seed mass mean:

0.00685 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Silphium perfoliatum has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Journal of natural products

Chemicals

Silphium perfoliatum has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Chlorosilphanol A, Silphanepoxol.

Chlorosilphanol A

1. Journal of natural products

Silphanepoxol

1. Journal of natural products

Preparations

Silphium perfoliatum has 1 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include leaves.

Leaves

1. Journal of natural products