Ohio wildflower ID

orgoveg · Sat Jul 25, 2009 10:18 pm

This grows in large numbers on a prairie in Western Ohio. It is very similar to arrowleaf balsamroot, but the petals are narrower and more numerous. I imagine this one is common to some of you. Help?

[img]https://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh194/abaction/unkflower.jpg[/img]

rainbowgardener · Sun Jul 26, 2009 4:29 pm

Not sure, but it looks like it might be in the Silphium family of Prairie Sunflowers. Compass plant is one and Cup plant (or Indian Cup) is another. Re cup plant the book (Newcomb's Wildflower Guide --THE book) says:

leaves egg shaped, the pairs of upper leaves united at the base to form a cup. Flower heads are 2-3" wide with numerous rays. Stem is square, smooth, 4-8' tall.

Look up compass plant and cup plant and see what you think. How tall are these guys?

orgoveg · Mon Jul 27, 2009 12:08 am

I think you nailed it with the cup plant. I found lots of different images and it sure is close. I'm going to go back and examine the plants again. They ranged from 3' to 5' tall.

Thanks Rainbow.

orgoveg · Tue Jul 28, 2009 2:16 am

Yes, it is indeed cup plant. I even found some with water still in the "cups".

rainbowgardener · Tue Jul 28, 2009 6:45 am

Very cool! (re the water)

I'm in western Ohio (SW -- Cincinnati) where is this prairie? I'd like to see it, if it is open to public.

orgoveg · Tue Jul 28, 2009 9:07 am

It's the Hobart Urban Nature Preserve in Troy (North of Dayton). It's a pretty nice place with a pond, but it's only about 3 years old since it was converted from mostly farm fields. The trees are very young. You see mostly queen anne's lace, bee balm, jerusalem artichoke, black-eyed susans, purple coneflower, cat tails, swamp milkweed, teasel, and lots of that cup plant. The coolest part is many deer and the occasional fox.

Here's a link to information: https://www.miamicountyparks.com/hobart.html

rainbowgardener · Tue Jul 28, 2009 12:53 pm

I'll have to check it out some time... thanks very much