Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Your gift keeps resources like this database thriving!

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.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
Not Yet Rated

Wednesday - October 29, 2014

From: Dallas, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Plant ID in Arkansas
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

Harrison, Ark I borrowed pix, hope they can be seen. Fast growing, 5' popped up in area- it screams abutilon to me, but the flower doesnt. Waited til Sept to bloom. Nowhere for pic. Green/ yellow tubular flowers hang downward, large leaf not quite heart shaped serrated edges, not angel trumpet, datura. Single woodyish straight stem. The flowers are where the stems divide.

ANSWER:

Mr. Smarty Plants has two native plant suggestions for your mystery plant:

Prenanthes alba (White rattlesnakeroot)  Here are more photos and information from Minnesota Wildflowers.  The USDA Plants Database distribution map shows it occurring in Carroll County and Marion County on either side of Boone County.

Prenanthes altissima (Tall rattlesnakeroot) Here are more photos and information from Illinois Wildflowers.  The USDA Plants Database distribution map shows it occurring in three counties adjacent to Boone County (Carroll, Newton and Marion).

If neither of these is your mystery plant, please visit our Plant Identification page to find links to several plant identification forums that will accept photos of plants for identification.

 

From the Image Gallery


White rattlesnakeroot
Prenanthes alba

White rattlesnakeroot
Prenanthes alba

Tall rattlesnakeroot
Prenanthes altissima

Tall rattlesnakeroot
Prenanthes altissima

More Plant Identification Questions

Plant identification
September 30, 2008 - I was just in Alabama this weekend and all alongside the road-side were these georgeous pink flowers. I finally stopped to pick one and thet are even prettier up close! The stem is smooth and leafle...
view the full question and answer

Identification of plant in Menard TX
April 16, 2010 - We recently purchased 40 acres in Menard Texas on the San Saba River. There is a plant that looks like a fern that is all over the river bottom. It looks like the foliage on a carrot and they are al...
view the full question and answer

Identification of Cryptomeria japonica for homeowners association
May 09, 2007 - Good morning. We are wondering if Cryptomeria japonica trees can fit under the term "pine like". We used the term pine like when asking for our home owners associations approval and we put in a Cr...
view the full question and answer

Plant identification
August 17, 2008 - We are trying to identify a plant we saw on a walk. It's about a foot high. About halfway up, the stem splits in two. From there up the two stems are covered with white kind of loosely trumpet sha...
view the full question and answer

Care for Vauquelinia angustifolia (Chisos Rosewood)
June 08, 2008 - Hello, I have another question for you. A friend has given me a plant called "Chisos Rosewood" which they bought on a whim but decided they couldn't use. It's said to be evergreen. It's about...
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.