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 is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Wednesday - May 30, 2012
From: Antioch, TN
Region: Southeast
Topic: Plant Identification, Vines
Title: Identification of vine with 4-petaled purple flower
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Does anybody know what vine has a purple four petaled flower with small bulb in middle??ANSWER:
One vine that I found that meets your description is Clematis occidentalis var. occidentalis (Purple clematis). The USDA Plants Database shows its distribution to include adjacent Virginia and North Carolina, but not Tennessee. However, there is the possibility that it could occur in Tennessee and hasn't yet been reported. You can see more photos and information from US Forest Service and from the the University of Michigan Plant Diversity Website.
If that isn't the vine you have seen, then you can do a COMBINATION SEARCH for native vines that occur in Tennessee in our Native Plant Database by choosing "Tennessee" from the Select State or Province option and "Vine" from the Habit (general appearance) slot. If it is not a native vine, it won't appear in our database. If you have a photo, you can visit our Plant Identification page to find links to several plant identification forums that accept photos of plants for identification.
From the Image Gallery
More Plant Identification Questions
Identification of Sagittaria-like plant with purple flowers
July 21, 2011 - I have collected a wetland plant that I can't seem to identify. Its an emergent plant collected along with a species of sagittaria. Very similar in leaf structure to an sagittaria or alisima, but i...
view the full question and answer
Plant identification
May 07, 2008 - I have a green bush that us come up in the old garden spot it has littl green balls all over it with seeds like in them, what could it be?
Thanks
view the full question and answer
Instructions for sending photos for identifying plants
October 23, 2007 - I purchased a plant in Athens, GA at the trial garden at UGA. I have two pictures that I can email. It's growing really tall (over 6"). It has big, dark green leaves that are rough to the touch. It ...
view the full question and answer
Possible identification of Hydrocotyle bonariensis
July 01, 2007 - I went to Pedra Island two years ago I saw a plant that grew around the beach. It has a perfectly round leaf that has the stem in the middle of the back side of the leaf. It has small yellow flowers. ...
view the full question and answer
Identification of yellow blooming plants near Temple, Texas
November 07, 2011 - This question may be a challenge. We noticed fields of
yellow blooming plants in the fields east of Temple. They
appear to be about 4 inches tall. (we were on a bus and
could not stop to look cl...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |