prairie dock

Silphium terebinthinaceum

Prairie dock is a tall plant with big leaves and bright yellow flowers. It grows in sunny places and can be found in prairies and open fields, making it a beautiful sight in nature.

Hábitat: Grasslands

Aspecto

The prairie dock is a tall plant with robust, stiff stems rising high above large, sandpaper-textured basal leaves. It has bright yellow, daisy-like flowers that bloom in clusters at the top, making it stand out against the prairie.

ReinoPlantaeFiloTracheophytaClaseMagnoliopsidaOrdenAsteralesFamiliaAsteraceaeGéneroSilphium

prairie dock

Categoría

Plantas

Rareza

Common

Peligro

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Snaps

¡Sé la primera persona en hacer un snap!

Datos interesantes

Early settlers chewed its resinous sap like gum for a refreshing taste.

Its leaves can rotate to face east and west, like natural solar panels!

Native Americans used its strong stalks to make scrubbing brushes!

This plant's mighty roots can plunge over 15 feet into the earth!

Habilidades especiales

Prairie dock has unique vertical leaves that help it catch morning and evening sun, while reducing water loss during intense midday heat.

Prairie dock can grow a very long taproot that helps it reach deep water sources and withstand strong prairie winds.

Prairie dock has a sticky resinous sap that can help it seal wounds and deter some herbivores.

Medidas y detalles

Altura: 100-300 cm
Extensión: 30-90 cm
Tamaño de la flor: 5-10 cm
Temporada de floración: Summer-fall
Comestible: Sí
Toxicidad: Ninguna
Ciclo de vida: Perenne
Método de polinización: Insectos

Conexiones ecológicas

pollinates

Honey bee

Apis mellifera

collects nectar and pollen from its flowers

pollinates

Monarch butterfly

Danaus plexippus

visits flowers for nectar

eaten by

American bison

Bison bison

graze on young leaves and stems

depends on

Silphium borer moth

Papaipema silphii

larvae bore into its stems for shelter and food

Rasgos

Ornamental

Las plantas ornamentales se cultivan principalmente por su atractivo estético, embelleciendo paisajes y jardines con su atractivo follaje, flores o forma.

Floración de verano

Las plantas de floración de verano producen sus flores durante la temporada estival, a menudo aportando un color vibrante cuando muchas otras plantas ya han terminado de florecer.