Note from the Author: New wild plant!
Foliage like this is sure to catch one's eye.
Common Name: Carolina Rosinweed
Other Common Names: Kidneyleaf Rosinweed
Botanical Family: Asteraeae (The Aster Family)
Botanical Latin Name: Silphium compositum
Description & Habitat:
Carolina Rosinweed is a native herbaceous perennial wildflower that is found across North Carolina. It is generally found in the Longleaf Pine Sandhills and other xeric forests woodlands and by the roadside. It is biologically adapted to handle exceptionally dry soils with poor nutrient content and has a very long taproot making it difficult to transplant. In smaller specimens the taproot can go down a foot, while several feet are the norm for mature specimens. The botanical Latin name has two references in play, ‘Silphium’ is the name given to the plant by Carl Linnaeus as a reference to the legendary but now extinct Giant Fennel plant of Ancient Greece and Rome. Back then the original Silphium was used as a seasoning, medicine, aphrodisiac and as a perfume however much like Sea snails used for Tyrian Purple this plant was likely harvested to extinction. The specific ephithet ‘compostium’ refers to the compound leaves.
The Rosinweeds are in the Aster family and are under the Sunflower tribe meaning they support Pollinators and wild birds with their flowers and foliage. In terms of appearance the specimen found of Fort Liberty had deeply lobed leaves with bright red leaf veins. The shapes of the leaves on the specimen were almost Oak-like and at first I thought it might be a member of the Bears Breeches family out in the wild. This plant’s flower stalks from last year remained and it appeared that this plant might naturally form something close to a basal rosette. The specimen was found in soil that was almost pure sand with a little bit of clay in full sun growing out of the side of a embankment.
Special Toxicity Note:
It is unknown if any parts of this plant are poisonous or toxic.
When & What to Harvest:
It is unclear if this specific Rosinweed is edible, but multiple sources suggest it’s resin was extracted somehow and chewed like gum. I have no idea what part of the plant this would come from if it’s true, but chances are it’s the taproot.
Related Plants:
Cup Plant (S. perfoliatum), Prairie Dock (S. terebinthinaceum), Whorled Rosinweed (S. trifoliatum) and, Compass Plant (S. laciniatum).
Recipe:
Unfortunately, there are no recipes for this one, just for its cousin the Cup Plant and others that are related.
Additional Information: (If applicable)
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/silphium-compositum/
Where to get Seed or Bare Root Plants:
https://www.prairiemoon.com/search-results.html?Search=silphium#/?resultsPerPage=24
With all that garden goodness covered this is the part of the blog where I have to advertise for the Fayetteville City Market. Now I know you readers probably don’t much like advertisements, but my booth at the City Market helps to cover the costs of running the test garden and literally maintains the Research & Development budget that is used to bring you the information that has made up the backbone of this blog. In addition to being able to process card payments we now take CashApp payments so your payment options for my product have tripled. With that said; if you want to get some GMO-free, Organic fruit, herbs, flowers and perennials, come on down to the Fayetteville City Market on 325 Maxwell Street in downtown Fayetteville between the hours of 9:00 am and 1:00 pm on Saturdays. Even in bad weather the market goes on though you might have to look for me under the ‘arches’ of the Transportation Museum’s front entryway.
Spring Plants
Basil, Sweet Genovese
Chicory, Italian
Chicory, Garnet Stem
Lily, Formosa
Okra, Iraqi Bamia
Onion, Yellow Salad
Pepper, Lesya (bell type, mild)
Pepper, Bull’s Horn (mild)
Pepper, Carolina Wonder Bell (mild)
Pepper, Ancho/Poblano (spicy 1-2k SHU)
Pepper, Jalafuego (spicy, 4-6k SHU)
Pepper, Extra Long Cayenne (spicy, 30-50k SHU)
Pepper, Ghost (hot!!, 1-1.2 million SHU)
Pepper, Carolina Reaper (hot!!! 1.5-2.2 million SHU)
Potato, Sweet ‘Covington’
Tomato, Lemon Cherry
Tomato, Chocolate Cherry
Tomato, Midnight Snack
Tomato, Black Krim
Tomato, Purple Cherokee
Plants Coming Soon:
Spineless Prickly Pear
-Others TBA-
How to stay in Contact with Us!
All you need to keep up with all our activities is to have a Nextdoor account and to look for the ‘Sustainable Neighbors of Fayetteville’ group and ask to join! You don’t have to live in Fayetteville to join us! Feel free to ask all your garden questions of our knowledgeable membership and post your cool garden pictures.
Sustainable Neighbors of Fayetteville
Also please take a gander at the YouTube version of this blog:
The Videos: Look Here
>Newest videos (1): Marsh Pennywort
Meetings are still going on! Our next (unofficial) meeting is May 2nd at the Fayetteville City Market at 325 Franklin Street between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm. If you can’t make it to the City Market come on down to the North South Brewery Market which is at 304 Williams Street (Right off West Russel Street), between 1pm and 5pm every Saturday.
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