Cup Plant, Silphium perfoliatum

Cup Plant gets its name from the leaves forming cups around the stem. After it rains water collects in them. Usually the cups are empty before mosquitoes get a chance to take advantage of it. Birds, Bees, and other wildlife will drink from the cups, but the real highlight is the flowers. Assorted bees and even Swallowtail butterflies use them as a nectar source. Birds such as the Goldfinch feed right from the flower head to eat the seeds. Though native to the US, this plant spreads prolifically, both by root suckers, and seed. The patch in this video was 4 plants just last year. Suckers have since shot up from each to form their own clump.