Phone toll-free 800-291-2143

Asteracea Family - "Compass Plant, Rosinweed (also refers to S. integrifolium), Turpentine Plant, Polar Plant"

Silphium is an ancient Greek term for "resinous juices". Terebinthenacium is the Latin term for "of turpentine", referring to the turpentine-like odor of this plant.

Common to prairies in the northern areas of the Tallgrass biome. Huge leaves, reaching two feet in length are oval or heart-shaped. S. terebinthenacium can reach 10 feet tall.

Native Americans brewed a root tea for lung bleeding, back and/or chest pain, to ease profuse menstruation and to induce vomiting. The smoke from the entire burning plant was inhaled to relieve head colds and ease the effects of neuralgia and rheumatism. Historically, a tea made from the roots of S. lacinatum was used to reduce the swelling of an enlarged spleen, fevers, internal bruises, debility, liver ailments and ulcers. This is a toxic species, but the toxicity is unknown.