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.
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.
rate this answer
Wednesday - July 08, 2009
From: Springfield, OR
Region: Northwest
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Plant ID in Springfield OR
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
I recently discovered a wildflower closely resembling the Oregon Lady Slipper, apparently a wild orchid, but with many blooms on a single long stem and with no apparent leaves. I'd like more information and a name? I've spent much time in forest land but never seen another like this. I have a picture, though I believe it is a bit past it's prime.ANSWER:
Even with the best description, it is nearly impossible to identify plants without a picture. Go to our Plant Identification site for instructions on submitting a photo. Meanwhile, check this American Orchid Society website which will give you help in identification, with pictures. Finally, we searched on our Native Plant Database for members of the Orchidaceae family native to Oregon, and got a list. You can do the same thing, follow each plant link on the list and get the description, growing conditions and look at pictures of orchids you might expect to find in your area.
More Plant Identification Questions
Plant identification
November 18, 2007 - We were at some friends' ranch in Bandera Co. last week and found a plant with 1 inch pea-like pods of a matchstick girth with square black seeds. There were no leaves left only smooth green stems w...
view the full question and answer
Plant identification of tree with white blossoms in Fort Worth
March 17, 2010 - Live in Fort Worth, TX. Any idea what are trees blooming this week (3/18), with white blossoms and an oval green leaf about the size of a half dollar? The bark looks like an oak.
view the full question and answer
Mystery plant
August 31, 2009 - mystery plant, multiple non-woody stems from a single base, thorns like a rose bush,leaves like poison ivy in sets of three with the top dark green underside pale green. thanks
view the full question and answer
Identification of Swamp Rose (Rosa palustris) in Atlanta
May 28, 2006 - I live in metro Atlanta. I have a rose variety growing wild in the woods that resembles a Cherokee Rose except it is pink and has seven leaves on the stem. Can you identify it from this description? T...
view the full question and answer
Difference between Convallaria majalis and Convallaria majuscula
May 17, 2012 - How do you tell the difference in the native convallaria from the European species?
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |