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Questions and Answers

2013

  • Question
    Mcq A grain of wheat is : 1. Seed. 2.embryo. 3. Fruit 4. Both seed and fruit
    Answer
    A grain of wheat is the fruit. Members of the grass family have a kind of seed-like fruit called a caryopsis (or grain). In most species, the grains are enclosed inside of one or more scales that have been removed when people purchase grains for cooking or grinding into flour. As a fruit, a grain contains the seed, which also contains an embryo (no different than other kinds of fruits).
  • Question
    I can't seem to find what this plant is. This was taken in New Hampshire in July.
    Answer
    Your image is of Hydrocotyle Americana (American marsh-pennywort). It is a member of the Apiaceae (celery family). This is a small, herbaceous plant of low areas (often wet).
  • Question
    Thank you for that detailed answer! I have Flora Nova Angliae (an awesome resource) and just read more details. I have a follow-up question. Is this an official change? What group officially makes these decisions? How is the change implemented and the knowledge of the change disseminated?
    Answer
    Lena, there is no group who makes decisions about what rank to recognize taxa at. In this case, the question is: do we recognize the groups of dogwoods as genera (i.e., multiple genera) or as subgenera (i.e., as one genus). What occurs is various authors make their arguments and the botanical community decides whether it will follow said arguments (or not). Unfortunately, many things interfere with the advancement of well-supported taxonomies, including taxonomic inertia (resistance to change) and poor understanding of systematics. In regard to Cornus, arguments that apply to other genera that have been split in recent years (e.g., Lycopodium, Aster, Scirpus) also, in large part, apply to Cornus. They are very different groups and sort well world-wide. However, it will be years before some people "accept" this change, for no other reason than it requires them to learn a new generic scheme (i.e., it is easier to simply call them all Cornus). Unfortunately, this approach does not take into account what we know about this group's morphology, phylogeny, phenology, phytogeography, and physiology. Changes like this are disseminated through papers, floras, classes, etc. So, it takes time for this kind of information to spread, resulting in people using completely different naming systems in different communities. Best wishes.
  • Question
    Hi, I have noticed that the dogwood genus has changed, from Cornus to both Swida and Benthamidia, mostly. I assume this was due to some new knowledge from genetics work or something. Could you tell me more, or point me in a direction where I could learn more about this change? Thanks!
    Answer
    Dear Lena, the dogwood genus did not change (i.e., Cornus is still Cornus). What has happened is that botanists have recognized that it was comprised of four very distinct entities: (1) Cornus in the strict sense (Cornelian cherries), woody with precocious flowers, (2) Benthamidia (big-bracted dogwoods), woody with large petaloid bracts, (3) Swida, (blue- and white-fruited dogwoods), woody and without petaloid bracts, and (4) Chamaepericlymenum (dwarf dogwoods), herbaceous plants. Note: there are many other characters that distinguish these genera, I've only provided a brief synopsis here. There is morphological, phylogenetic, distributional, and physiological evidence that supports the splitting of Cornus into four genera. Patterns of hybridization also mirror these four genera (i.e., hybrids are known within the genera but not between them). You can begin reading more about this by following up on the references given in Flora Novae Angliae. If you have more questions, feel free to follow up at gobotany[at]newenglandwild.org.
  • Question
    Please help to identify this was found in Scituate Ma.
    Answer
    Your images are of a plant in the poppy family called Macleaya cordata (plume-poppy). During the growing season, if you break a leaf from the stem, you will note a yellow latex exudes from the wound. Best wishes.
  • Question
    Please help with identifying this was taken at Humarock beach in the dunes near the south river
    Answer
    I assume you mean Humarock Beach in Massachusetts. Your plant looks to be Prunus maritima var. maritima (beach plum), a shrub of the coastal plain. The dark blue fruits are typical of this species in the fall season.
  • Question
    Hi, I'm monitoring quadrats in an emergent wetland area next to a pond, where purple loosestrife is being biocontrolled. I came across this new species this week: a low, green (somewhat red-purple veined underneath) leafy plant growing like a rosette. Can you help me ID it? Thanks!
    Answer
    Dear Kirsten, these look to be the winter rosettes of Epilobium ciliatum ssp. ciliatum (fringed willow-herb). The dead stem in one of the pictures would be a clue to the identity of this plant (you might notice persistent, narrow, 4-valved capusles with comose seeds). This is a species that is frequent in many different wetland settings. Best wishes.
  • Question
    Hello, I love Go Botany and I am so grateful for the program. Is it possible to mention the Native/ non native and invasive non invasive status of plants that you identify? I am new to the site. Thank you
    Answer
    This is information you can always access, simply go to the taxon page for that plant (or search for it on the home page of the Go Botany website and then click to visit the taxon page). Some of the plants that people post here are not wild plants (rather they are cultivated), so those species, in effect, have no status. Best wishes.
  • Question
    hello there, my friend has a plant and was wondering wat was the name and what kind it is? I myself haven't seen it before, the seeds seem to come from the edges of the leaves. The leaves seem to be on a level type of growth while having 2 leaves opposite of each other on each "level".
    Answer
    You appear to have a plant in the genus Bryophyllum, which are succulent species that produce plantlets from the margins of the leaves. Bryophyllum is a member of the Crassulaceae (stonecrope family), with many native to the African continent.
  • Question
    Hi Ace, I found this plant in early August in Lincoln, MA. It was growing seeds that had a fuzzy coat. This plant is opposite, with some interesting looking stipules. It seems like the stipules can either be small or grow into secondary leaves. Thanks, Jay
    Answer
    Jay, nice images (thank you for posting several, it makes my job easier). This is Circaea canadensis (broad-leaved enchanter's-nightshade), a member of the Onagraceae (evening-primrose family). It is a frequent component of forests, especially moist, deciduous types. The fruits are covered with hooked hairs that aid in their dispersal. Best wishes.
  • Question
    Hello. I have a couple of questions to ask you. 1.Why do plants need the sun? 2. What would the affect be on the plant if there wasn't sunlight? 3.Do plants find sunlight or does the sunlight find the plant? 4. Does every plant need the sun? 5. Would it affect the ecosystem if there was no sun?
    Answer
    Plants use sunlight to make food. The green pigment (cholophyll) uses the energy from the sun to combine with CO2 (carbon dioxide), water, and nutrients/minerals to create the food that nourishes the plant. Without sunlight, the plant cannot manufacture its food and it would diet. Plants find the sun, and often grow in a direction to reach more of it. Not all plants need the sun, some parasitic plants get their food from other green plants (or from fungi). Without the sun, almost all life (not just plant life) would eventually end.
  • Question
    A colleague came across this unidentified tree- about 20' tall, single stem about 1" thick, green to black berries, very pungent pine odor to berry, ,compound leaf, opposite branching, 13-14 leafs on each branchlet, note the wavy tips of the leaves, light green underneath, smooth leaf, no hairs
    Answer
    The tree is Phellodendron amurense (Amur corktree), a member of the Rutaceae. Members of this family are often pungent due to volatile compounds found on the foliage and on/in the fruits. This tree is planted around New England and sometimes escapes cultivation.
  • Question
    I have a violet plant here. I think it belongs to the family Lamiaceae since its stem has four sides and it resembles me a lamiaceae flower. Thank you!Also, I want to know what possible family/species does a flowering(1 small flower) weed belongit looks like asteraceae with flowers & poaceae if none
    Answer
    I cannot see the plant in the image clearly (the photograph is out of focus slightly), but your flower appears to be Viola (garden violet, sometimes also known as Johnny-jump-up). Many flowering plants have square stems that are not part of the Lamiaceae (mint family). That trait (square stems) does not define mints). If you look at the flower and note whether or not it has a blunt, rounded nectar spur (on the "back side" of the flower) it will help confirm it as Viola tricolor (mints do not have flowers with nectar spurs). Best wishes.
  • Question
    This low growing wild plant almost looks like it should be growing under water, but it's coming up, thriving, and spreading in packed stone dust. It starts small as one little "branch" 3-4" long growing very close to the ground, and grows into lush bunches 12" tall. Do you know what it is? Thanks
    Answer
    This image is Equisetum sylvaticum (wood horsetail), a free-sporing plant related to the true ferns. It is the only member of its genus (horsetails and scouring-rushes) that has branched branches (the other species, if producing branches at all, have simple--unbranched--branches).
  • Question
    Found this vining plant in an old overgrown farm field near the Androscoggin River in Brunswick ME. The vines are 8-12' long and wrap through and very tightly around other wild plants. I've never seen anything like it - can you tell me what it is?
    Answer
    The image shows the fruits of Echinocystis lobata (wild cucumber). This native vine belongs to the Cucurbitaceae (squash family), though it has a very different fruit from most cultivated members of this family.
  • Question
    Hi my name is Ralph i live in Southern New York, I recently received a package of leaves in the mail for my mother. I have a friend in Southern California who recommended my mother grind up these leaves and drink them for kidney ailment. I wanted to ask an expert before she proceeds to do it. Thanks
    Answer
    Dear Ralph, it would be very difficult for me to confidently identify the plant for you. Regardless of its identity, it does not appear to have been preserved (through drying) properly as there is a lot of discoloration in the leaves (properly dried leaves do often fade in color, but rarely would they show black marks as the images do). For that reason alone I would suggest not consuming these leaves as they may have molds/fungus present due to improper preservation. Best wishes.
  • Question
    What type of flower is this? It has 5 petals, but 2 different shapes it seems.
    Answer
    You have photographed a cultivated orchid, the different shapes represent flowers at different stages (i.e., expanding from bud and fully expanded flowers).
  • Question
    Hello, im ryan. Yesterday I was foraging for sea blight and samphire on the victorian coastline in australia and I stumbled across this pea plant growing on the edge of marshland. Could you please tell me what it is and if it is edible? Thanks
    Answer
    Dear Ryan, I don't see any images associated with your post (question). Without any images, it will be very difficult to help you. Best wishes.
  • Question
    What is this little wild flower I saw Sunday October 6, 2013 on Monhegan Island, Maine near Lobster Cove, growing among large rocks right by the ocean. It has 5 petals and is orange. The flower area is maybe 1/2 inch circumference. The plants trailed low to the ground. THANKS!
    Answer
    The plant you have photographed is Lysimachia arvensis (scarlet pimpernel), a member of the Myrsinaceae. If you look this plant up in any field guides, it will be under the scientific name Anagallis arvensis (in case you try to look it up). This is a well-known location for this plant (Monhegan Island).
  • Question
    August 24, 2013; Northeastern Vermont We don't remember seeing the blossom In woods, on side of trail, but sunny Nobody knows what it could be. Thank you for your help!
    Answer
    Andree, the plant you have photographed is Clinopodium vulgare (wild basil), a member of the mint family (Lamiaceae). What you have photographed are the persistent, pubescent calyces (the sepals of each flower taken collectively). These remain on the plant for some time after the petals fall. Clinopodium vulgare is not uncommon in many forested parts of New England.
  • Question
    Hi Ace, I found this herbaceous plant in early August. There were several of these around, but I could only find one in flower. The leaves are simple and entire, and are alternately arranged. The flowers have 5 white petals and appear to be paired ( again only one sample).
    Answer
    Dear Jay, your plant is Solanum ptycanthum (eastern black nightshade). Many field guides will identify this as Solanum nigrum, but that species is a rare introduction from Europe.