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

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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!

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Wednesday - September 24, 2008

From: Pomona, MO
Region: Midwest
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Plant identification
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

I found a flower about 5 inches tall and it is Pinkish White the head of it hangs down and looks like a rose that hasn't bloomed yet. It reminds me of an Orchid like Fairy . Its Mystic like! what is it I have been looking at pictures but no Matches. I found it in the bottom of my woods looking for mushrooms.

ANSWER:

From your description Mr. Smarty Plants thinks this sounds like Monotropa uniflora (Indianpipe). Here are more photos and information. If this doesn't happen to be it, here are two websites of Missouri flowers that you can search by flower color—Missouriplants.com and Missouri Wildflower Guide. And, if you don't find your flower there, please send us photos and we will do our very best to identify it. Please visit the Ask Mr. Smarty Plants' Plant Identification page to read the instructions for submitting photos for identification.