Authentic Wisconsin.  Compass Plant - Silphium laciniatum


Compass Plant on the shore of the retaining pond on the corner of Nakoma Road and Manitou Way in Madison, Wisconsin on July 31, 2020


Above: Compass Plant on the shore of the retaining pond on the corner of Nakoma Road and Manitou Way in Madison, Wisconsin (7/31/20).


Compass Plant - Silphium laciniatum

The common name compass plant was inspired by the "compass orientation" of its leaves. The large leaves are held vertically with the tips pointing north or south (to avoid the full brunt of the sun) and the upper and lower surfaces of the blades facing east or west.

The leaves are deeply divided into linear-oblong lobes.

The Compass Plant is related to Rosinweed (Silphium integrifolium), Basal-leaved Rosinweed (Silphium terebinthinaceum)) and the Cup Plant (Silphium perfoliatum)).

Other Names: prairie compass plant, pilotweed, polarplant, gum weed, cut-leaf silphium, and turpentine plant.

Silphium: old Greek generic name referring to resinous juice.

Compass Plant stem and leaves in the UW-Madison Arboretum in Madison, Wisconsin on July 31, 2020

Above: Compass Plant stem and leaves.

For more information on the Compass Plant, visit Wikipedia.

Or, visit the UW-Madison Wisconsin State Herbarium website page about Compass Plant.


Basal-leaved  Rosinweed in the UW-Madison Arboretum in Madison, Wisconsin on July 10, 2020.
Basal-leaved  Rosinweed in the UW-Madison Arboretum in Madison, Wisconsin on July 12, 2020.
Basal-leaved  Rosinweed in the UW-Madison Arboretum in Madison, Wisconsin on July 12, 2020.
Compass Plant on the shore of the retaining pond on the corner of Nakoma Road and Manitou Way in Madison, Wisconsin on July 31, 2020.
Compass Plant on the shore of the retaining pond on the corner of Nakoma Road and Manitou Way in Madison, Wisconsin on July 31, 2020.
Compass Plant on the shore of the retaining pond on the corner of Nakoma Road and Manitou Way in Madison, Wisconsin on August 11, 2020.
Compass Plant on the shore of the retaining pond on the corner of Nakoma Road and Manitou Way in Madison, Wisconsin on August 11, 2020.
Compass Plant on the shore of the retaining pond on the corner of Nakoma Road and Manitou Way in Madison, Wisconsin on August 11, 2020.
Compass Plant in the UW-Madison Arboretum in Madison, Wisconsin on August 17, 2020.
Compass Plant in the UW-Madison Arboretum in Madison, Wisconsin on August 18, 2020.
Compass Plant in the UW-Madison Arboretum in Madison, Wisconsin on August 18, 2020.
Compass Plant in the UW-Madison Arboretum in Madison, Wisconsin on August 18, 2020.
Compass Plant in the UW-Madison Arboretum in Madison, Wisconsin on August 18, 2020.
Compass Plant in the UW-Madison Arboretum in Madison, Wisconsin on August 18, 2020.
Compass Plant in the UW-Madison Arboretum in Madison, Wisconsin on August 18, 2020.
Compass Plant in the UW-Madison Arboretum in Madison, Wisconsin on August 18, 2020.
Compass Plant in the UW-Madison Arboretum in Madison, Wisconsin on August 18, 2020.
Compass Plant in the UW-Madison Arboretum in Madison, Wisconsin on August 18, 2020.
Compass Plant along bike path near Glenway intersection in Madison, Wisconsin on August 19, 2020.
Compass Plant in the UW-Madison Arboretum in Madison, Wisconsin on August 20, 2020.
Compass Plant in the UW-Madison Arboretum in Madison, Wisconsin on August 20, 2020.
Compass Plant in the UW-Madison Arboretum in Madison, Wisconsin on June 16, 2021.
Compass Plant in the UW-Madison Arboretum in Madison, Wisconsin on June 16, 2021.
Compass Plant in the UW-Madison Arboretum in Madison, Wisconsin on June 18, 2021.
Compass Plant in the UW-Madison Arboretum in Madison, Wisconsin on June 19, 2021.
Compass Plant in the UW-Madison Arboretum in Madison, Wisconsin on June 19, 2021.
Compass Plant in the UW-Madison Arboretum in Madison, Wisconsin on June 19, 2021.
Compass Plant in the UW-Madison Arboretum in Madison, Wisconsin on June 22, 2021.
Compass Plant in the UW-Madison Arboretum in Madison, Wisconsin on June 22, 2021.
Compass Plant in the UW-Madison Arboretum in Madison, Wisconsin on June 30, 2021.
Compass Plant in the UW-Madison Arboretum in Madison, Wisconsin on June 30, 2021.
Compass Plant in the UW-Madison Arboretum in Madison, Wisconsin on June 30, 2021.
Compass Plant in the UW-Madison Arboretum in Madison, Wisconsin on August 2, 2021.
Compass Plant in the UW-Madison Arboretum in Madison, Wisconsin on June 24, 2022.
Compass Plant in the UW-Madison Arboretum in Madison, Wisconsin on June 24, 2022.

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Wisconsin Wildflowers


Compass Plant
Silphium laciniatum


Basal-leaved  Rosinweed in the UW-Madison Arboretum in Madison, Wisconsin on July 12, 2020.

Basal-leaved  Rosinweed in the UW-Madison Arboretum in Madison, Wisconsin on July 12, 2020.


Above: Compass Plant in the UW-Madison Arboretum in Madison, Wisconsin on July 12, 2020.


Compass Plant along bike path near Glenway intersection in Madison, Wisconsin on August 19, 2020.


Above: "Compass Plant along bike path near Glenway intersection in Madison, Wisconsin on August 19, 2020.


Compass Plant in the UW-Madison Arboretum in Madison, Wisconsin on August 20, 2020.


Above: Compass Plant in the UW-Madison Arboretum in Madison, Wisconsin on August 20, 2020.


1913 Compass Plant illustration.


Above: 1913 Compass Plant illustration.



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