Polymnia canadensis L.

White Flower Leafcup; Small Flower Leafcup

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

White Flower Leafcup is a native herbaceous perennial in the Sunflower family (Asteraceae). It can be found in the northern third of Alabama. White Flower Leafcup occurs in rich hardwood forests, on limestone outcrops, along streams, and in forest openings. It is a short-lived perennial from a rhizome. The stems are 3-6 feet in height, round in cross-section, green or purple-red in color, long pubescent, and glandular. The leaves are opposite, petiolate (usually with winged petioles), triangular to ovate in outline, irregularly 5-7 pinnately lobed or toothed, pubescent, and glandular or gland-dotted. The leaf bases often have connate-perfoliate basal appendages. The Flowers are produced in heads. The heads are arranged in 2-5 flowered loose corymbs. Each head has 2-6 outer phyllaries that are ovate to linear and several shorter ovate to lanceolate inner phyllaries that are similar to the paleae. Each head has 2–6 pistillate, fertile, white ray flowers and 12–30+ functionally staminate, pale yellowish-green disc flowers. The fruit is a pear-shaped, 3-angled or -ribbed achene. White Flower Leafcup is sometimes available as seed or plants from nurseries. It prefers a moderately rich soil in full to partial sun. Because of its size it should be used at the back of beds or along fence line or woodland edges. White Flower Leafcup attracts a wide range of pollinators.—A. Diamond

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Native

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