Allotments 4 All

Produce => Non Edible Plants => Topic started by: widgetwilk on September 05, 2007, 19:35:22

Title: Mystery Plant
Post by: widgetwilk on September 05, 2007, 19:35:22
This plant appeared in my garden early summer, I did not know what it was so I left it, it is now 3ft high, 2ft wide, and I think I like it, but would like to know what it is, does anyone know????

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/widgetwilk/My%20Garden/mysteryplant.jpg)
Title: Re: Mystery Plant
Post by: saddad on September 05, 2007, 20:41:12
Stumped by that one Widgetwilk..  :-[
Title: Re: Mystery Plant
Post by: tai haku on September 05, 2007, 22:06:05
Do you have a birdfeeder with mixed birdseed in it nearby by any chance?
Title: Re: Mystery Plant
Post by: widgetwilk on September 06, 2007, 07:38:53
Yes tai I have, why what is it?????
Title: Re: Mystery Plant
Post by: Palustris on September 06, 2007, 10:34:49
Thank you Tai Haku. It has been bugging me all last night. I KNEW I had seen the plant somewhere, but for the life of me I could not place it. Mind, I still do not know what it is called.  :'(
However, the only seeds we put in the bird feeder where I have seen it growing are sunflowers and peanuts.  It is not a sunflower and I think peanuts have leaves a little like a pea rather than serrated ones like this.
Title: Re: Mystery Plant
Post by: widgetwilk on September 06, 2007, 11:13:53
I have just done a lot of searching and all I can find to look like it is
Conium Maculatum [hemlock]!!!!! surly not, but as it has not flowered yet I can't be sure, but the leaves look similar.
Have just taken this photo

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/widgetwilk/My%20Garden/DSCN0766.jpg)
Title: Re: Mystery Plant
Post by: tai haku on September 06, 2007, 14:23:55
Quote from: widgetwilk on September 06, 2007, 07:38:53
Yes tai I have, why what is it?????

I don't know but I've seen very similar stuff pop up where mixed bird seed is allowed to fall and germinate.
Title: Re: Mystery Plant
Post by: isbister on September 06, 2007, 16:28:20
Is it some kind of hemp? Very common in birdseed
Title: Re: Mystery Plant
Post by: OllieC on September 06, 2007, 16:38:10
Quote from: isbister on September 06, 2007, 16:28:20
Is it some kind of hemp? Very common in birdseed

Ah, now this I can answer... ahem. No, it's not.
Title: Re: Mystery Plant
Post by: isbister on September 06, 2007, 17:42:00
You sure - it's a long time ago... but the foliage looks familiar
Title: Re: Mystery Plant
Post by: widgetwilk on September 06, 2007, 18:37:53
Quote from: OllieC on September 06, 2007, 16:38:10
Quote from: isbister on September 06, 2007, 16:28:20
Is it some kind of hemp? Very common in birdseed

Ah, now this I can answer... ahem. No, it's not.

How are you sure of your answer???
Title: Re: Mystery Plant
Post by: OllieC on September 06, 2007, 18:50:08
Quote from: widgetwilk on September 06, 2007, 18:37:53
Quote from: OllieC on September 06, 2007, 16:38:10
Quote from: isbister on September 06, 2007, 16:28:20
Is it some kind of hemp? Very common in birdseed

Ah, now this I can answer... ahem. No, it's not.

How are you sure of your answer???

I used to know someone who grew a variety of hemp and er... well, I've seen a lot of "hemp" plants. When I was younger, of course. Apart from anything else, you get boy plants & girl plants, so the flowers look completely different. Also, the leaves, whilst similar, look more like Mugwort to me...

Title: Re: Mystery Plant
Post by: calendula on September 06, 2007, 19:34:23
is it not one of the physostegias - obedient plant  ???
Title: Re: Mystery Plant
Post by: Palustris on September 06, 2007, 20:39:10
The leaves on Physostegia are toothed true, but they are not compound leaves like these.
Title: Re: Mystery Plant
Post by: Carol on September 06, 2007, 22:39:07
Eric, remember i asked you the same ?? about this plant couple years back.  Grew from my bird seed.

Title: Re: Mystery Plant
Post by: widgetwilk on September 07, 2007, 07:43:16
Don't like all this talk about Hemp, sounds illegal,  :-[

like your opinion Carol, isbister,  seems more like it as it is right next to the bird table. Am going to leave it to see if the flower heads come out.
Title: Re: Mystery Plant
Post by: Palustris on September 07, 2007, 09:04:33
The leaves are wrong for Hemp. That has 5 to 7 leafelts coming directly from the stem rather than  as in the picture above (Think of a hand with 2 extra fingers!).
Widgetwilk,  Hemp seed is often included in bird food mixtures. It is also the source of fibre for ropes and cloth AND most  important it does NOT develop any narcotic properties unless it receives a lot more heat than is normal even in a good British summer.
Title: Re: Mystery Plant
Post by: widgetwilk on September 07, 2007, 09:18:56
Thanks for that reply Palustris,
I hope the flower heads come out, that might tell us more.
Will keep you posted,
thanks for all your interest.
Title: Re: Mystery Plant
Post by: Markonee1 on September 08, 2007, 01:14:51
Hi
Interesting plant...
Flowers would help so much.
I don't think it's hemlock as leaves aren't feathery enough.
Flowers aren't bunching like  the Umbellifers.
A closeup of the stems/junctions would help.
Are the stems hairy? Looks like it could be a variety of Rhus/Sumac sp.?
Title: Re: Mystery Plant
Post by: widgetwilk on September 08, 2007, 08:04:41
Here are two more close-up pics of the 'plant' and yes the stems are hairy'

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/widgetwilk/My%20Garden/mysteryplantstem.jpg)


(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/widgetwilk/My%20Garden/mysteryplant.flower.jpg)
Title: Re: Mystery Plant
Post by: calendula on September 08, 2007, 13:18:04
what about phacelia, although I'm not sure what the leaves of phacelia look like  ???
Title: Re: Mystery Plant
Post by: Trixiebelle on September 08, 2007, 14:46:21
I originally concurred with the learned OllieC (he of ceramic butterdish fame) :D

The closest picture in my wild flower bible is mugwort, but having googled the images it doesn't look 'quite right'

http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.wildflowersofontario.ca/mugwort1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.wildflowersofontario.ca/mugwort.html&h=576&w=432&sz=96&hl=en&start=20&tbnid=C3qBOJjWWiNLtM:&tbnh=134&tbnw=101&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmugwort%26gbv%3D2%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG

Then again, it ALSO comes close to Tyneside Leopardplant but the leaves are a bit different:

http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.wildflowersofontario.ca/mugwort1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.wildflowersofontario.ca/mugwort.html&h=576&w=432&sz=96&hl=en&start=20&tbnid=C3qBOJjWWiNLtM:&tbnh=134&tbnw=101&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmugwort%26gbv%3D2%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den

The leaves look a bit like poppy leaves don't they? Maybe you've discovered a new species of poppy  ;D





Title: Re: Mystery Plant
Post by: Markonee1 on September 08, 2007, 15:56:35
very similar to Rhus lacinata... Sumach...

I don't think Phacelia.. flowers wrong and leaves more nettle like...but on the same page in my book just spotted 'Bells of Ireland  Molucella laevis..white flowers and apple green shell like calyses on 'spikes'
:-\
Title: Re: Mystery Plant
Post by: widgetwilk on September 08, 2007, 16:24:37
Think your links are a bit long Trixiebelle, try this, http://tinyurl.com/

this is certainly arousing interest, but have not seen anything like it,
I am still going for the 'bird seed' theory, or a bird bought it in,
like the idea of discovering a 'rare plant'!!!!
Title: Re: Mystery Plant
Post by: Trixiebelle on September 08, 2007, 17:13:27
Sorry about the long links  ::)
Title: Re: Mystery Plant
Post by: beth23 on September 14, 2007, 08:31:37
could it be millet?
Title: Re: Mystery Plant
Post by: widgetwilk on September 15, 2007, 08:16:23
Thanks Beth, the 'flowers' look very similar but the leaves are not the same,
had a message saying it could be Ragweed,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ragweed

the picture at the bottom of this page certainly looks like it.

thanks for all your help
Ann
Title: Re: Mystery Plant
Post by: Palustris on September 15, 2007, 09:05:10
Just discovered the same sort of plant growing under our bird table. This is very odd as we only ever feed peanut and sunflower. However our neighbours do give one of those wild vird food mixes.
Title: Re: Mystery Plant
Post by: widgetwilk on September 15, 2007, 13:55:57
Yes I am convinced it comes from the bird seed, I shall be in that part of the garden next weekend, so it will go then, but it has been fun trying to find out what it is.
Title: Re: Mystery Plant
Post by: calendula on September 15, 2007, 14:04:32
if it is near the bird table this doesn't mean it is in the bird seed from the table but deposited by birds whilst feeding there - so in that sense it could have come from anywhere
Title: Re: Mystery Plant
Post by: widgetwilk on September 15, 2007, 14:07:56
I have had PM's from a member and he has defiantly solved it here is the web site to what it is.
http://tinyurl.com/2lyujl
Title: Re: Mystery Plant
Post by: Palustris on September 15, 2007, 14:10:24
Not read the links, but it is a Ragweed. http://www.iflorist.co.uk/p-1415-ambrosia.aspx
Title: Re: Mystery Plant
Post by: widgetwilk on September 15, 2007, 15:01:30
Thats the one Palustris.