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
Thursday - November 12, 2009
From: Andover, MA
Region: Northeast
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Plant identification in Andover MA
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
I live in MA. I have found a tree that produces an avocado like fruit with a round grooved pit. There are several of these trees in the fields where I walk and the ground is littered with these fruits. Can you tell me what they are? Unfortunately there is no foliage left on the trees to help with the id.ANSWER:
Nothing springs to mind that might have that description. It is possible it is a non-native tree, perhaps planted in an orchard. Please go to our page for Plant Identification and follow the instructions to send us pictures of the fruit, seed, perhaps the tree itself and the bark, and we will try to figure out what it is. You might also contact the University of Massachussetts Extension Office for Essex County to see if someone there recognizes the tree.
More Plant Identification Questions
The most common wildflower in the United States
July 29, 2014 - What is the most common wildflower in the United States?
view the full question and answer
Plant identification
March 15, 2012 - My daughter took the attached picture of a plant growing along a road in Austin, TX. I've searched the database and several wildflower books and can't find the flower. Can you identify it? Thanks fo...
view the full question and answer
Seed pod of Proboscidea louisianica (Deveil's claw) in New Mexico
August 30, 2014 - I found the most amazing seed pods of the devil's claw right here in Albuquerque. I thought it was a wood skeleton of a pterodactyl (flying dinosaur, I believe), but heard it's a devil's claw. Ok...
view the full question and answer
What is sage-like plant in New River AZ?
July 17, 2009 - I have a sage like looking plant growing wild in my yard. I live in the Sonora Desert. Its leaves are purple and once a year in spring it will bloom small blooms that are lavender. It grows 2 to 3 an...
view the full question and answer
Smarty Plants on Plant Identification
April 25, 2005 - We bought our house last October and there were beautiful pink flowers blooming along our sidewalk. They bloomed until past Thanksgiving. They resembled Azaleas but we don't know what they were. Th...
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |