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
Saturday - September 12, 2009
From: Natchitoches, LA
Region: Southeast
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Plant identification for Louisiana
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Trying to identify a "fruit bearing" plant around Natchitoches, Louisiana. Grows about waist high to average man, slightly elongated green leaf, bearing small green "fruit" or "berry", with paper thin, veiny skin. Grows wild, bushy, deer seem to be attracted to it.ANSWER:
Mr. Smarty Plants thinks this sounds like a species of Physalis. Here are some that are of sufficient height and are native to Louisiana:Physalis angulata (cutleaf groundcherry) grows to about 3 feet and here are more photos and information.
Physalis heterophylla (clammy groundcherry) grows to 1.5 to 2.5 feet and here are more photos and information.
Physalis pubescens (husk tomato) grows to 2.5 feet and here are more photos and information.
Physalis virginiana (Virginia groundcherry) grows to 3 feet and here are more photos and information.
If none of these is the plant you have seen, please send us photos and we will do our best to identify your plant. Please visit Mr. Smarty Plants' Plant Identification page for instructions on submitting photos.
More Plant Identification Questions
Plant identification--vine with spiny pods in California
July 05, 2010 - I came across a vine while hiking in Orange County, CA. It didn't have flowers on it but has 3 or 4 inch spiny pods. What is it? The vine itself looks similar to a Morning Glory vine.
view the full question and answer
Pepper plants growing in California
September 11, 2008 - Hello, I have several hot pepper plants growing in my yard. I would like to know what the pepper is called. I dry them out and grind them up to a powder and use it in many dishes. I have asked my l...
view the full question and answer
Plant identification
August 15, 2008 - Virginia Creeper or something else? I live in McKinney, Tx, and have a limestone escarpment in back that leads down to a "white rock " creek. A wrought iron fence separates the yard area from the ri...
view the full question and answer
Identity of plant called 'Bell-flowered Yucca' associated with Lynn Lowrey
January 20, 2011 - Please help identify a plant, the seeds of which are labeled "Bell Flowered Yucca" and " H. lowyrii" (or, presumably, some variant of Lynn Lowrey's name). I believe that this seed was collected ...
view the full question and answer
Drummonds wild onion growing along creek in St. Edwards Park
April 17, 2006 - I live near St Edwards Park in Austin and was wondering what the name of the onion is that grows along the creek. Thanks
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |