Explore Plants
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.
Can't find the answer in our existing FAQs, submit a question to Mr. Smarty Plants.
Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.
rate this answer
Monday - August 13, 2007
From: Crystal Lake, IL
Region: Midwest
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Identification of plant in Illinois
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I've found a plant that I cannot identify. The plant is is very short, 2 inches tall maybe, and has very fragile, thin leaves and stem. The leaves about 1" long, are pinnate, with about 20 leaflets on each leaf (shaped like the leaves of a honeylocust tree). The flower is bright yellow with a dark brownish throat. Looks sort of like a tiny violet or orchid. Found it growing in savannah area. Semi-shade/dappled light, on the edge of my mesic woodland. It's in bloom right now. Any thoughts on what it might be?ANSWER:
Mr. Smarty Plants loves to identify plants, but it is usually difficult (if not impossible) to do so from a description alone. If you could send us a photograph or two, we will do our very best to tell you the name of your plant. Here are the instructions on how to submit photographs:1. Tell us where and when you found the plant and describe the site where it occurred.
2. Take several images including details of leaves, stems, flowers, fruit, and the overall plant.
3. Save images in JPEG format, not more than 640 x 480 pixels in size, with resolution set at 300 pixels per inch.
4. Send email with images attached to id@smartyplants.org. Put Plant Identification Request in the subject line of your email.
You can also read these instructions in the lower right corner of the Ask Mr. Smarty Plants page.
More Plant Identification Questions
Identity of plant at funeral that smells similar to honeysuckle
April 04, 2013 - What plant or flower smells similar to honeysuckle?
I live in Ohio and I smelled some kind of flower or plant at a friends funeral last spring that smelled similar to honeysuckle. It was...
view the full question and answer
Plant identification from Virginia
May 03, 2012 - We found lots of asparagus like stalks growing randomly in our field here in central Virginia. But, instead of an asparagus head it has a tight cluster of leaves that are small and roundish. Any idea...
view the full question and answer
Identity of and how to get rid of plant in planter in Indiana
May 17, 2013 - We moved to Mooresville Ind. (Brooklyn area) 3 yrs ago. In one of the 12x12 planters out back, these one THINGS keep cutting back and spreading everywhere. They are tall, hollow stem, seems like ther...
view the full question and answer
Learning to identify native plants in backyard
June 28, 2011 - Please let me know how a layman like myself can identify native plants in my backyard. I don't know the plant names and don't know if they are dicots or any other technical terms (that some websites...
view the full question and answer
Plant identification
May 19, 2009 - I found a large shrub/tree behind an old building on my place. It has small smooth oval leaves 3/4-1 inch; x 1/2 inch, small somewhat clusters of a blue fruit 1/4-1/2 inch diam with one seed in it. Ca...
view the full question and answer
 |
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. Mr. Smarty Plants wants you to be his Facebook friend. Click the Facebook icon to add yourself to Mr. Smarty Plants list of friends. |
