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Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: floraldi on June 09, 2008, 18:46:58

Title: Unusual but attractive plant?
Post by: floraldi on June 09, 2008, 18:46:58
I have tried on other forums to get a name for a plant that first appeared in my garden a few years ago but to no avail.  Sorry if this is the wrong forum by the way. Here goes:

It appears early in Spring, March/April, it has fleshy stalks that go in all directions.   The foliage is lacy, pale green and attractive. It has a very strange flower; yellow, like a small pod with a grey tip.  Now it is coming to the end and it is dripping with bunches of seed pods.  I am collecting these bunches just in case anyone knows and likes this plant and will want some seed.

It is very shallow rooted and easy to pull out of wherever it is growing.
Early in the season it makes the garden look attractive as it will grow anywhere.  Any ideas?   

Oh, nearly forgot, I did take a picture but made a mess of transferring it to one of the photo sites and it has come out like fancy wallpaper i.e. the picture is repeated in rows.
Title: Re: Unusual but attractive plant?
Post by: Emagggie on June 09, 2008, 19:51:05
I'm intruiged, what is the shape and size of the leaf floraldi? Do the flowers  grow along the stalks and hang down or do they grow at the end of a stalk. Any chance we can see your 'wallpaper'?
Title: Re: Unusual but attractive plant?
Post by: jennym on June 09, 2008, 23:46:00
Sounds a little bit like my Sophora - I have Sophora microphylla Sun King - there are probably other varieties too.
Looks like this images taken from a search of the net: http://www.dkimages.com/discover/previews/841/20048907.JPG

and here is a pic I took in 2006:
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a215/jennympics/Sophoraandvisitor1stMay2006.jpg)
Title: Re: Unusual but attractive plant?
Post by: floraldi on June 10, 2008, 18:13:35

Would you believe I actualy found a reasonable picture of the plant :-[
This is the link but I am not sure I have done it correctly.



(http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f293/florald/DSC01860.jpg)
Title: Re: Unusual but attractive plant?
Post by: floraldi on June 10, 2008, 18:15:50
Should have added that it is nothing special but it does fill the gaps in the early Spring.
Title: Re: Unusual but attractive plant?
Post by: Rhubarb Thrasher on June 10, 2008, 18:28:22
surely that's yellow corydalis - a weed of cultivation round our parts. Also comes in blue, but from a garden centre
Title: Re: Unusual but attractive plant?
Post by: manicscousers on June 10, 2008, 18:29:10
we've got one like that. ray's mum reckons it's a maidenhair fern  :)
Title: Re: Unusual but attractive plant?
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on June 10, 2008, 18:34:21
Yellow corydalis it is. Ferns don't have flowers.
Title: Re: Unusual but attractive plant?
Post by: manicscousers on June 10, 2008, 18:40:41
thanks, robert, first year, not had flowers yet, maybe that's why  ;D
Title: Re: Unusual but attractive plant?
Post by: floraldi on June 11, 2008, 17:48:21
Quote from: Robert_Brenchley on June 10, 2008, 18:34:21
Yellow corydalis it is. Ferns don't have flowers.

Thank you Robert. I will go and read about it.  I knew someone would tell me it was a weed (Rhubarb Thrasher).  Don't think anyone on the Swap Shop will want any of those seeds ???
Title: Re: Unusual but attractive plant?
Post by: Rhubarb Thrasher on June 11, 2008, 19:02:52
it's only a weed if it's in the wrong place. It was one of our main weeds when we took on our plot (the wrong place). Now the main one is the related FUMITORY, with seed that stays viable for a very long time. It's also very pretty when growing in a hedge
Yellow corydalis is lovely in walls and cracks in pavements. Wouldn't be without it
Title: Re: Unusual but attractive plant?
Post by: star on June 11, 2008, 20:38:10
Corydalis is a very handy little plant, it brightens up darker corners and is a lovely cheery yellow. I will have some seeds from you please Floraldi.

As has been said, if it grows where its not wanted, its easily removed.

Have pm'd you ;)
Title: Re: Unusual but attractive plant?
Post by: Kea on June 12, 2008, 10:23:39
Lovely Kowhai Jennym!