and can't imagine what went into making such a discovery. There are amazingly smart people in this world. Thanks for a post that inspires us with genius instead of, well, you know...

This makes me smile.

Prairie Dock, Cupp Plant, Compass Plant, and Rosin Weed.

This article implies (and others I read) that cultivating this plant is difficult and why it almost went extinct. Is this true for the types you have? Do you think there are ways to cultivate this one over time?

…. I don’t know. Although if it is just a few of them maybe the seed doesn’t get pollinated or
the native critters aren’t around anymore to pollinate them. They should be able to propagate
them from their roots. We have grown lupines from seed that is thousands of years old.

It depends on where you live but the Native American ones are really easy to grow. P.M.
me and I can put you in touch with a friend who grows them. They are like a big sunflowers
and help lots of our native critters such as bees, insects, birds, and firefly larvae. 🐛

by people who liked silphium

… North America. So it’s a well-populated genus. One theory is the ancient plant, that Greeks called silphion, was related to giant fennel, which is in the genus Ferula. The Greek philosopher Theophrastus noted the plant as having thick roots covered in black bark, with a hollow stalk (like fennel… and familiar Silphium species), and golden leaves like those of celery. (Thx Wiki).