# compass plant (*Silphium laciniatum*) The compass plant is a tall, bright yellow flower that grows in prairies. Its leaves point north and south, helping people find their way in nature! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 17 - **Habitat:** Grasslands - **Also known as:** Compass Flower ![compass plant](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Compass_plant.jpg&width=800) Photo: GFDL · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Compass_plant.jpg) ## Appearance The compass plant is a tall, coarse-textured prairie perennial with robust stems and large, deeply lobed leaves. It produces striking yellow, daisy-like flower heads up to 10 cm across, often found solitary or in small clusters at the top of its sturdy stalks. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Asterales - **Family:** Asteraceae - **Genus:** Silphium ## Interesting facts - Even after a prairie fire, compass plants often sprout back quickly, thanks to their deep roots that survive underground! - It's a 'living fossil' of the ancient prairies, often growing in the same spots for decades and supporting many creatures. - Its unique leaves were once used by early pioneers as a natural compass to find their way across vast prairies! - The plant's scientific name, Silphium, comes from an ancient Greek plant that produced a valuable resin, similar to its sticky sap. ## Special abilities - **Sun Tracker:** The compass plant can orient its large, deeply lobed leaves to align mostly north and south, minimizing sun exposure during the hottest part of the day. - **Deep Drinker:** Compass plant has a massive taproot that can grow over 15 feet deep, helping it reach water far underground and survive droughts. - **Sticky Protector:** When its stem is broken, the compass plant releases a sticky resin that helps heal wounds and deters herbivores from further damage. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 150-300 cm - **Spread:** 60-120 cm - **Flower Size:** 5-10 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer to early Fall - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Gathers nectar and pollen - **Pollinates:** [Monarch butterfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/monarch-butterfly) (*Danaus plexippus*) — Feeds on nectar from flowers - **Eaten by:** [American bison](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-bison) (*Bison bison*) — Historically grazed on leaves - **Eaten by:** [White-tailed deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Browses on young leaves ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Giant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/giant): Giant describes organisms or objects of significantly larger size than average for their species or type. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch plants unless you know they are safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify compass plant? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is compass plant? 150-300 cm ### How wide does compass plant spread? 60-120 cm ### How big are the flowers on compass plant? 5-10 cm ### When does compass plant bloom? Summer to early Fall ### Is compass plant edible? Yes ### Is compass plant toxic? None ### What is compass plant's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Anderson Japanese Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/anderson-japanese-gardens) — Illinois, US · Botanical Garden - [Boerner Botanical Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/boerner-botanical-gardens) — Wisconsin, US · Botanical Garden - [Gensburg-Markham Prairie](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gensburg-markham-prairie) — Illinois, US · Nature Reserve - [Humboldt (Alexander Von) Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/humboldt-alexander-von-park) — Illinois, US · Park - [Lilacia Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lilacia-park) — Illinois, US · Botanical Garden - [Richard Bong State Recreation Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/richard-bong-state-recreation-area) — Wisconsin, US · State Park [View all places to see compass plant](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/compass-plant) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Compass Plant: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/compass-plant)