Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie
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  • Marbleseed

    SCIENTIFIC NAME: Onosmodium molle (Ososmodium hispidissimum)


    COMMON NAME: Marbleseed

    BLOOM TIME: June, July

    PLANT PROFILE:

    • Very hairy stemmed plant, 1-4 in. tall.
    • Densely coiled tube like flowers are greenish white, about in. long.
    • Habitat: rocky woods & prairies, but not common in Illinois.
    • Named for its hard white seed.

    INSECT/ANIMAL INTERACTIONS:

    • Larvae of some tiger moths & larvae of the Painted Lady butterfly also feed on the leaves.
    • The foliage may contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids that are toxic.
    • Not a preferred source of food for mammals because of its bristly hairs.