Kendall County (IL) Forest Preserve District
Leaf-Cup
(Whiteflower Leafcup)
Polymnia canadensis
[C-value
10]
Aster family (Asteraceae)
Blooms July -
mid-September
The native Leaf-Cup is uncommon in our area. It prefers light to medium shade and moist to slightly moist loamy soil with abundant organic matter. Habitats include rich deciduous woodlands, upland rocky woodlands, bases of bluffs, shaded moist ravines and shaded areas along streams. This biennial (or short-lived perennial) is about 1½–4½' tall, branching occasionally with erect to ascending stems densely covered with long hairs. The leaves are up to 12" long and 8" across on petioles up to 4" long, becoming gradually smaller as they ascend the stems. The lower to middle leaves are lobed (5-7) with pointed tips. Small cymes of flowers develop from the upper stems and the axils of upper leaves. Each flower is about ½" across, consisting of several yellow disk florets in the center and cream-colored ray florets (5-8) around its circumference.
Leaf-Cup at Millbrook South Forest Preserve August 14, 2017
Leaf-Cup at Millbrook South Forest Preserve August 14, 2017
Leaf-Cup early foliage at Millbrook South Forest Preserve May 24, 2013
Leaf-Cup colony at Millbrook South Forest Preserve August 14, 2017
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