Found in Chicago region. Photo taken in October. I thought originally Culvers Root, but the leaves are not in the proper whorled arrangement. The flower is somewhat like Obedient plant but then the leaves are pretty different.
Obedient plants have opposite leaves (not whorled), square stems(not round) and flowers in four columns spaced squarely around the stem. So not obedient plant at all.
When the debate is lost, slander becomes the tool of the losers. - Socrates
I'm wondering if your first thought of Culver's Root is the right one. The leaves do look whorled, and maybe they are somewhat less symmetrical at the top of the plant where there are flowers?
