Silphium is fantastic finch food and water source

Few forbes represent the Midwestern tall grass prairie as well as the plants of the genus Silphium. The compass plant, Silphium laciniatum, served as an orienteering device for early explorers: the tall, deeply cut leaves turn north and south based on the sun's direction in order to conserve water. The leaves of the plant are arranged in a perfoliate fashion, which means the leaves wrap around the entire stem, creating a small cup which captures the morning dew and rainfall. the morning dew collected is ofetn the only water source for birds and butterflies. Prairie dock, Silphium terebinthinaceum, towers several feet over the rest of the prairie when it blooms in the late summer. At an average height of 12 feet, Cup plant, Silphium perfoliatum, thrives in the dense, rich prairie.
Based on ethnobotanical history, modern researchers are investigating the medicinal properties of prairie plants. The sap from S. perfoliatum not only provides protection from HIV in infected cells, but is a known anti-cancer organic extract. The healing properties of the genus Echinacea are well known, as are the anti-cancer treatments afforded by the genus Ceonanthus.