PlantShare
Sign up for PlantShare
As a member of PlantShare, you will be able to:
- Upload photos of plants to share with others
- Create checklists of plants you want to keep track of
- Publish the location of the plants you have seen on your own map
- Ask one of our expert botanists questions Sign Up
Sightings Locator
Ask the Botanist
Our ace botanists are here to help you identify wild New England plants and to answer questions about their ecology and conservation. When posting a question, please provide the location, habitat (e.g. river, mountain, woodland), and photographs of the plant.
Everyone can read the answers, but only logged-in users can ask questions. Log in to ask a question.
Recently answered questions
-
- Question
- Hello again, Thanks for your help identifying the Symphyotrichum patens. I'll look back in on it in the fall when it's in flower. I was wondering if there's enough in these images to identify this Carex species. Could it be Carex radiata or perhaps Carex rosea? Found in Neutaconkanut Park in Providence, RI (as was the aster). Thanks again
- Answer
- Dear sldz22, good afternoon. The sedge you have photographed is consistent with members of section Phaestoglochin (e.g., Carex radiata, C. rosea). However, to identify this plant I would need careful measurements of leaf width and stem width and a close-up image of the styles as they protrude from the perigynium. Perhaps you will be able to examine these features and navigate your way in the identification key. Best wishes. (Friday, 24 June 2022)
-
- Question
- Dear Kind Botanist, I was wondering if you could please help me identify this shrub? I realize your specialty is New England plants but I’m unable to find another reputable online source….this shrub is located near Parry Sound Ontario on an island on the Canadian Shield (granite). It’s located under some old pine trees. In a large patch. Woody stems. The “flower” is somewhat hard. Thank you very much!
- Answer
- Dear mkmcd, good afternoon. While I can't tell you with 100% certainty, this may be what is called Azalea Leaf and Flower Gall caused by the fungus Exobasidium vacinii. It is frequent on black huckleberry (Gaylusaccia baccata), but I don't believe it is restricted to that species. I hope this helps get you started on your study. (Friday, 24 June 2022)
-
- Question
- Thank you for helping me to learn Amelanchier and botany in general. I returned to the plant today and took these pictures, with visible hairs inside the ring of sepals, it seems. The red diamonds show stems from this clump, and there are several other clumps within the range of my phone-cam from about 20 feet away, standing just within a growth of cattail along this tidal river. Do the hairs definitively identify this as A. arborea, or are there still other possibilities?
- Answer
- corylus, good afternoon. A pubescent ovary summit and relatively short petals suggests this plant is no Amelanchier arborea. Given the height you mentioned, it is most likely a hybrid that could involve Amelanchier spicata. If you could get a flowering specimen next year I could give you a more positive determination. Stay in touch if that sounds like something you would like to do. Best wishes. (Friday, 24 June 2022)
More recently answered questions »