Prairie Dock...

…or Silphium terrabintinaceum is everywhere. Yesterday we encountered entire fields filled with these tall willowy plants. Last year we had just one, this year there are almost a dozen! The name “Silphium” refers to an ancient Greek plant that produces resin. Resin was once highly sought after for a variety of uses, including as an incense for use in religious ceremonies. The species name “terebinthinaceum” means “like turpentine,” referring to the odor of this plant. (U.S.Forest Service) This is a very tall perennial plant, with a nearly leafless flower stalk, sometimes over eight feet tall. Not only does the plant extend high into the air, it also has a long taproot that grows deep into the soil. This adaptation is beneficial because the prairie is often hot and dry, and the deep taproot allows the plant to reach water. This feature also helps the plant persist despite grazing and mowing. With so much energy reserves stored underground, sending up new shoots is not that costly for the plant. Although definitive studies are lacking, this is believed to be among the longest-lived species of the prairie.