compass plant

compass plant

n.

A perennial herb (Silphium laciniatum) in the composite family, native to prairie regions of the Midwest United States and having radiate yellow flower heads and erect, basal, pinnately divided leaves.

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compass plant

n

1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) Also called rosinweed a tall plant, Silphium laciniatum, of central North America, that has yellow flowers and lower leaves that tend to align themselves at right angles to the strongest light, esp in a north-south plane: family Asteraceae (composites)

2. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) any of several similar plants

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	compass plant - North American annual with red or rose-colored flowers Lotus americanus, prairie bird's-foot trefoil, prairie lotus, prairie trefoil subshrub, suffrutex - low-growing woody shrub or perennial with woody base
	2.	compass plant - any of several plants having leaves so arranged on the axis as to indicate the cardinal points of the compass compass flower aster family, Asteraceae, Compositae, family Asteraceae, family Compositae - plants with heads composed of many florets: aster; daisy; dandelion; goldenrod; marigold; lettuces; ragweed; sunflower; thistle; zinnia composite plant, composite - considered the most highly evolved dicotyledonous plants, characterized by florets arranged in dense heads that resemble single flowers horse thistle, Lactuca scariola, Lactuca serriola, prickly lettuce - European annual wild lettuce having prickly stems; a troublesome weed in parts of United States rosinweed, Silphium laciniatum - North American perennial having a resinous odor and yellow flowers