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 - August 24, 2011
From: Arkport, NY
Region: Northeast
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Plant identification
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I have searched through all the plant identifications and can not find the one I am looking for. I live 6o miles South of Rochester, NY. In my woods, I found 2 plants, that are no where else in the woods or in my fields. At the base of the plant, the leaves are ovate and smooth. They are in a whorled fashion around the base, and have 3 leaves on each stem. The stems shoot up several feet and have branching, in which single, tiny, pale flowers bloom. Some have died and formed a seed. I went through every source and can not locate a picture that identifies it.ANSWER:
This Mr. Smarty Plants isn't at all sure that she has found your plant. I have found a few plants that have features that sound something like your description, but nothing that meets your description exactly.
Gillenia trifoliata (Bowman's root) and with sets of three leaves near the base of the plant. Here is a drawing that shows the three leaves better.
Geum canadense (White avens) with three whorled leaves and here are more photos.
Geum laciniatum (Rough avens) and here are photos.
Geum virginianum (Cream avens) and here is a drawing.
Galium triflorum (Fragrant bedstraw) with 6 whorled leaves on the stem. Here are more photos and information.
Galium circaezans (Licorice bedstraw) and more photos and information.
Galium asprellum (Rough bedstraw) with 6 whorled leaves. Here are photos.
If none of these is your plant and you have photos, please visit our Plant Identification page to find links to several plant identification forums that accept photographs for identification. You might also contact the Finger Lakes Native Plant Society to see if they might have an idea about what your plant could be.
From the Image Gallery
More Plant Identification Questions
Identification of plant with speckled green leaf
June 21, 2015 - I have a purple (or brown) speckled green leaf plant with tiny yellow daisy-like flowers. The leaf is fuzzy looking on the edge. Self seeds freely in my shady garden.
view the full question and answer
How does Styrax youngiae differ from other Texas Styrax species?
August 18, 2013 - How does the Styrax youngae differ from other Texas styrax? Where can I find a description of all the Texas styrax trees?
view the full question and answer
Identification of plant with long skinny stems and red flowers
May 07, 2008 - I keep seeing around this very pretty plant that has long skinny stems and bright red flowers that are tube like and skinny too. I would love to get this plant but do not know what it is called.
view the full question and answer
How to distinguish white-flowered Baptisias?
June 07, 2010 - How can I tell the difference between Baptisia alba and Baptisia alba var. macrophylla
view the full question and answer
Identifying plant
October 21, 2007 - What plant is usually found growing in low-lying freshwater marshy places with a single, straight-stemmed plant that grows to about one-to-two feet in height. The branches and leaves are sparse with ...
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |