duh - that makes sense! I had no idea they grew wild here - unless it's an escapee, as it's a bit off the beaten path. Thanks!

L. siphilitica: the colors I see here are all over the place, including one with blue and white: http://www.wildflower.org/gallery/species.php?id_plant=LOSI L. appendiculata var. gattingeri has the rounded bottom "petals"; BONAP doesn't list this subspecies; the species is no closer to you than IL and AL: http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=LOAPG BONAP for Lobelias: http://bonap.net/NAPA/TaxonMaps/Genus/County/Lobelia

George, I think your plant is Cup Plant - same genus - Silphium, but the species is perfoliatum. Note the leaf shape in one of the photos Dawn attached, which are more of a cut leaf type, and then check the leaves on the attached photo of S. perfoliatum and compare them to your 2nd photo. The leaves on S. perfoliatum are attached at the stem, forming a cup shape. Silphiums are very good wildlife plants for birds, butterflies, and insects. Susan Here is a link that might be useful: Silphium perfoliatum aka Cup Plant

Common Name: common blue violet Type: Herbaceous perennial Family: Violaceae Native Range: Eastern North America Zone: 3 to 7 Height: 0.50 to 0.75 feet Spread: 0.50 to 0.75 feet Bloom Time: April to August Bloom Description: White, blue Sun: Full sun to part shade Water: Medium Maintenance: Medium Suggested Use: Ground Cover, Naturalize Flower: Showy Attracts: Butterflies Tolerate: Deer, Clay Soil, Black Walnut