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

rate this answer

Thursday - July 08, 2010
From: Holland, MI
Region: Midwest
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Plant identification
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Found in a cedar swamp near Wolverine Michigan. Large dinner plate size flat green leaf on a mottled green and brown fleshy stem of about 8 or 10 inches. I first thought it was a tri-leaf plant but it was a deeply lobed leaf. one leaf on each stem. Sorry no pictures.ANSWER:
Were you, perhaps, seeing the leaves of Arisaema triphyllum (Jack in the pulpit) without its flower? The leaves are near the size of a dinner plate with three leaflets per leaf and they grow in moist places. Click here, again here and, once more, here for more information with photos for the Jack-in-the-pulpit.
Podophyllum peltatum (mayapple) is another possibility, but its leaf usually has more than three lobes.
More Plant Identification Questions
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
Plant identification
April 07, 2011 - Comal County, Texas.
Trying to identify a plant found growing in Comal Co. It was growing along the ground, with long, spiky leaves, and a ball of green flowers with a dark purple/brown 5 pointed sta...
view the full question and answer
How common is white blooming Mountain Laurel
April 01, 2003 - Is white blooming Mountain Laurel common?
view the full question and answer
Plant Identification
November 09, 2008 - I recently found a GIANT green seed pod around my small town in Northern Virginia. It's about 1 ft. 3 in. in diameter (15 in.) and its making me very curious as to what exactly it is. For the life of...
view the full question and answer
Instructions for sending photos for identifying plants
May 18, 2008 - Mr. Plants,
Does your Ask.... form allow photo attachments, so you can see the uncommon native plants that interest us.
Thanx.
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |