Practical
Plants

Silphium perfoliatum

Cup Plant

a perennial member of the Silphium genus in the family Compositae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
2.5 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Cup plant was employed medicinally by several native North American Indian tribes who used it to treat a variety of complaints[6]. It is little, if at all, used in modern herbalism. A decoction of the root has been used to treat the stoppage of periods, and also to treat morning sickness and to prevent the premature birth of a child[6]. In view of these conflicting uses, it is best that it is not used by pregnant women unless under the guidance of a qualified practitioner[6]. The root is alterative, antispasmodic, diaphoretic, emmenagogue, febrifuge, hepatic, stimulant, styptic and tonic. It is used in the treatment of liver and spleen disorders and has also been used to treat morning sickness[7][9][6]. A decoction of the root has been used internally in the treatment of back and chest pain and lung haemorrhages[6]. A decoction of the root has been used as a face wash to treat paralysis[6]. A poultice of the moistened dried root has been applied to wounds to stop the bleeding[6].

Product or use
Alterative
Product or use
Antispasmodic
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Emmenagogue
Product or use
Febrifuge
Product or use
Hepatic
Product or use
Pectoral
Product or use
Stimulant
Product or use
Styptic
Product or use
Tonic
Product or use
Women's complaints

Environment

Range
Eastern N. America - Ontario to South Dakota, south to Georgia, Missouri and Oklahoma.
Habitat
Rich woods, thickets, river banks and prairies[8].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 4+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a greenhouse[4]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and plant them out in the summer. Division in spring[3]. This is very difficult due to the deep and extensive root system.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Succeeds in any ordinary garden soil[1]. Prefers a deep moisture retentive moderately fertile soil that is not too nitrogen rich, in sun or dappled shade[4]. Hardy to at least -25°c[2]. Plants have a deep and extensive root system which makes transplanting difficult. An aromatic resin exudes from the crushed leaves and stems[5].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9

    ↩

  3. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

    ↩

  4. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2

  5. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩

  6. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  7. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩

  8. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

    ↩

  9. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

Edit this page