The flowers of the Cup Plant (Silphium perfoliatum) [left] and Compass Plant (Silphium laciniatum) [right] are very similar. The differences appear in the foliage. Cup Plants can grow up to 8-foot tall and have large opposite leaves that are joined at the stem, forming a "cup" that can actually hold water. Compass Plants have huge basal leaves, with smaller and alternate leaves along its length, and grows from 3 to 8-foot tall. The irregularly lobed basal leaves are generally oriented in a north-south direction, thus its name. Both are members of the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae). 8/9/14 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
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