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 13, 2009
From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Plant identification
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Every spring I have pink evening primroses blooming near the curb where the soil is very poor - lots of clay, very dry. Along with the pink evening primroses, there is a vine that can spread about three or four feet along the ground, with leaves that look just like the pink evening primroses, but the vine has small clumps of five white flowers with four tiny white petals each, surrounding a small bulge. They are blooming now, in my northern Travis county yard. I have no digital camera, and cannot find any similar image on the internet. - - - - - - What is the name of this mystery plant?ANSWER:
Mr. Smarty Plants can't find a plant that fits your description exactly, but here are some possibilities:Phyla nodiflora (turkey tangle fogfruit) has leaves that are similar to Oenothera speciosa (pink primrose) and acts somewhat vine-like even though it isn't a vine.
Convolvulus equitans (Texas bindweed) is a vine with leaves that are similar but it has five fused white petals.
Cynanchum barbigerum (bearded swallow-wort) is a vine and has small white flowers with four petals, but leaves are not like pink primrose.
Evolvulus sericeus (silver dwarf morning-glory) isn't a vine, but can look vinelike, but has small white flowers that have fused petals and leaves don't look like those of the primrose.
Oenothera pallida (pale evening-primrose) leaves are similar, but it isn't a vine and the four-petaled white flowers are large.
Oenothera speciosa (pink primrose) also has white populations.
Stenaria nigricans var. nigricans (diamondflowers) has small white flowers with 4 petals, but isn't a vine and doesn't have leaves that look like those of the primrose.
If none of these happen to be your vine, a photo would certainly help us identify what you have. I know you said you don't have a digital camera, but perhaps you have a friend who has one who would take a photo for you. If so, please send us photos and we will have a much better chance of identifying your vine. For instructions on submitting photos, please visit Mr. Smarty Plants' Plant Identification page.
More Plant Identification Questions
Identification of a flower, perhaps a yarrow
April 27, 2008 - There is a a flower blooming now on the roadside and in fields here in Waco. It really looks like Yarrow, but I don't want to harvest any and make a mistake. Can I send a pic to you guys and see if...
view the full question and answer
Plant identification
February 14, 2013 - Please help identify a flower I saw growing in the woods in central Arkansas last week.It had a light yellow flower growing out of a very flat basal rosette made up of grey-green spade-shaped leaves. ...
view the full question and answer
Orange and fuschia flowers on bushes in Maine
July 01, 2008 - I recently visited Portland,ME from end of May to the second week in June. many of the homes had these beautiful flowering bushes next to the houses. The flowers grew in clusters similar to hydrangeas...
view the full question and answer
How does Styrax youngiae differ from other Texas Styrax species?
August 18, 2013 - How does the Styrax youngae differ from other Texas styrax? Where can I find a description of all the Texas styrax trees?
view the full question and answer
Plant identification
June 14, 2008 - I have a plant or weed that is a five leaf leave and it is greenish-red and shinny.
I have been searching the internet and can't seem to find what it is.
It is spread throughout my back yard an...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |