Table of Contents for Kidney-leaf Rosinweed (Silphium compositum)
Kidney-leaf Rosinweed (Silphium compositum) is a herbaceous perennial that is native to the southeastern United States. This plant is a host to a moth and a butterfly and is an important nectar source for other insects. Growing from 1.5 to 8 feet tall, this species grows in open areas such as woodlands, roadsides, and meadows. The yellow flowers bloom from May to October and the plant is hardy in zones 7-9.
Taxonomy and Naming of Kidney-leaf Rosinweed (Silphium compositum)
Taxonomy
Kidney-leaf Rosinweed (Silphium compositum) was named and described by Andre’ Michaux, a French botanist, in 1803. It still has the same name and is a member of the Aster Family (Asteraceae).
Meaning of the Scientific and Common Names
Scientific Name
The genus name, Silphium, is derived from a Greek word that originated from a resin-bearing plant (Missouri Botanical Garden). The species name, compositum, comes from the compound leaves of the plant (NCSU Extension Gardener).
Common Name and Alternative Names
The common name comes from the shape of the leaf, but it is actually lobed and not the shape of a kidney. Another common name is Rosinweed.
Physical Description
- Plant Type: This plant is a herbaceous perennial.
- Height: 1.5 to 8 feet tall
- Stem: The stems are erect and glabrous, sometimes glaucous (Flora of North America).
- Leaves: The leaves are alternate, petiolate, elliptic to ovate, pinnate to palmately lobed, and have toothed margins (Flora of North America). The leaves are 1 to 14 inches long and 0.2 to 20 inches wide. They can be glabrous to pubescent.
- Flower color: yellow
- Blooming period: This plant blooms from July to September.
- Fruiting type and period: This plant has achenes that mature in the late fall and winter.
Range of Kidney-leaf Rosinweed in the United States and Canada
This species is native to the southeastern United States. It is considered to be rare in the state of West Virginia.
Habitat
This species grows in open areas such as dry shaly woods (Wood 1944),, woodlands, fields, roadsides, and meadows.
Hosted Insects
The members of the Silphium genus are hosts to the bordered patch (Chlosyne lacinia) butterfly in the western United States and the silphius borer moth (Papaipema silphii) throughout.
Other Supported Wildlife
This species is an important nectar source to other butterflies, skippers, bees, and wasps. Birds enjoy the seeds in the fall.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this plant have any ethnobotanical uses?
The Native American Ethobotanical Database shows that this species has been used as a gynecological aid and as a stimulant.
How is this plant distinguished from other Rosinweeds (Silphium spp.)?
This species is most similar to the prairie rosinweed (Silphium terebinthaceum), but prairie rosinweed has more than 14 ray flowers versus the less than 12 ray flowers of kidney-leaf rosinweed. The naked stem of separates this plant from others in the genus (Weakley, et al 2022).
Is this plant invasive?
This plant has not been noted as being weedy.
Gardening with Kidney-leaf Rosinweed
Hardiness
This species is hardy in zones 7-9. If your garden is within these zones and you have the right growing conditions (soil, moisture and exposure), you may well be able to grow this plant. However, if planted outside of its range, the hosted species may not recognize the plant or be harmed by ingesting a different species with an unfamiliar chemical composition.
Optimal Conditions
This species grows in full sun to partial-shade and medium to dry well-drained soil.
References
- Weakley, A.S., and the Southeastern Flora Team. 2022. Flora of the Southeastern United States. University of North Carolina Herbarium, North Carolina Botanical Garden.
- Wood, Carroll E. 1944. Notes on the Flora of Roanoke County, Virginia (continued). Rhodora 46: 135-142.
