Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
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Friday - June 27, 2008
From: New Braunfels , TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: User Comments
Title: Plant database correct!
Answered by: Damon Waitt
QUESTION:
Wrong taxonomy for bald cypress tree family in your plant database?ANSWER:
Wrong may be too strong a word given that botanists are constantly reclassifying species based on new evidence. At one time the Taxodiaceae was regarded as a distinct plant family comprised of ten genera, including Taxodium spp. More recent research including genetic evidence supports the movement of all genera (with the exception of Sciadopitys) previously assigned to the Taxodiaceae into the family Cupressaceae. To learn more about the reclassification of the Genera belonging to the Taxodiaceae visit the Cupressaceae family description in The Gymnosperm Database. If you want to "really" learn more, read this article:Phylogenetic relationships in Taxodiaceae and Cupressaceae sensu stricto based on matK gene, chlL gene, trnL-trnF IGS region, andtrnL intron sequences
More User Comments Questions
User's comment on nativity of Beggar's Lice from Austin
May 20, 2014 - I think you were off the mark telling somebody that "beggar's lice" is a Texas native. According to Wikipedia, Torilis arvensis is an invasive species native to Eurasia. Cheers!
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Agarita suggestion for Houston area
March 05, 2013 - Another possible plant for the following question is agarita. The question: "Looking for a very, very, thorny three or four foot tall shrub for in front of windows to deter break-ins. Considering Ro...
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User comments on soils from Austin
July 02, 2013 - You had a question this month about chlorosis in a Mexican plum in Bellaire. You correctly, in my opinion, answered that the problem was most likely overwatering. However, I just wanted to point out a...
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Correction of tree name from Bay Point CA
October 16, 2013 - The tree should of been Mulberry don't know how it was changed!!
Tuesday - October 15, 2013
From: Bay Point, CA
Region: California
Topic: Non-Natives, Cacti and Succulents, Trees
Title: Non-...
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Thank you Mr. Smarty Plants
January 28, 2009 - Hi, this is a note of thanks, powerful thanks, for your answer to my question about carolina laurel. Our disappointment was more than made up for by your recommendation to check out OSU's wonderful ...
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