leafcup
ExplorePlants
leafcup
Polymnia canadensis
The leafcup is a special plant with big, green leaves that can hold water like a cup! It grows in shady places and is loved by many little creatures in the forest.
Habitat: Forests
Appearance
The leafcup has large, deeply lobed green leaves that join at the stem, sometimes forming a small cup. Its branched stems bear tiny, pale yellow to white daisy-like flowers, often lacking prominent petals, making them look like small buttons.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderAsteralesFamilyAsteraceaeGenusPolymnia
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Early naturalists sometimes called this plant 'bearsfoot' because its big leaves look like a bear's paw!
Even though it's a relative of giant sunflowers, leafcup's blooms are usually only pencil-eraser size!
Its scientific name, Polymnia, comes from the Greek goddess of sacred hymns!
The 'cup' in leafcup comes from how its leaves join around the stem, like a tiny cup!
Special abilities
Ability
Rainy Season Cup
Leafcup has cup-shaped leaf bases that can collect rainwater, providing tiny drinking pools for thirsty insects!
Ability
Shadow Hunter
Leafcup can grow well in shady woodland spots, using its broad leaves to soak up even faint sunlight for energy.
Ability
Sticky Shield
Leafcup stems are often covered in sticky hairs, helping to deter small crawling pests from damaging its leaves and flowers.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 50-150 cm
- Spread
- 30-60 cm
- Flower Size
- 0.5-1.5 cm
- Bloom Season
- Late summer to fall
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
European honey bee
Apis mellifera
Visits its small flowers for nectar and pollen.
eaten by
White-tailed deer
Odocoileus virginianus
Sometimes browses on leafcup leaves and young stems.
eaten by
Leafcup borer moth
Crocidophora serratissimalis
Its larvae tunnel into the plant's stems to feed.
Traits
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Shade Tolerant
Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
Summer Blooming
Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
Broadleaf Tree
Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates.
Medicinal
Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
Edible
Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
Pollinator Magnet
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always look but don't touch plants unless you know they are safe.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is leafcup?
50-150 cm
How wide does leafcup spread?
30-60 cm
How big are the flowers on leafcup?
0.5-1.5 cm
When does leafcup bloom?
Late summer to fall
Is leafcup edible?
No
Is leafcup toxic?
None
What is leafcup's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is leafcup pollinated?
Insect
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