Compass Flower

I believe this is a Compass Flower, or "Silphium laciniatum". It was growing on the banks of Bear Creek and was approximately 4 feet tall at the time the photo was taken. A mature specimen can grow to be 6 to 12 feet tall, so it can be assumed this plant is not fully mature. The compass flower typically prefers full sun and moist to slightly dry conditions, and this flower was found by a creek in moist conditions with nearly direct sunlight. This plant is a primary producer and provides a food source to many insects in its community. Long-tongued bees are the main pollinators of the compass flower, and many insects feed on the leaves and stem including cicadas, beetles, and wasps. Additionally, these plants have long taproots and an extensive root system which helps to hold soil in place and provides a food source to the many insects living in the soil. There were other young compass flower plants growing along the creek as well. It is clear that these flowers are an important part of the creek's ecosystem as they are a food source to many other organisms.

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