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.
All Questions and Answers
Recently Answered Questions
-
- Question
- I'm looking for help identifying these plants. They grow at the side edge of the cliff on Mt Kineo, Piscataquis County, ME. They're little rosettes sharing space with Cerastium strictum. The leaves are somewhat stiff. No flowers. The first photo was taken August 12, the second in late September.
- Answer
- Dear Kimberley, good morning. They look like the rosettes of species of Draba (whitelow-mustard). The only species of Draba that I have seen on Mount Kineo is Draba glabella (the only location in ME for this species). Best wishes. (Tuesday, 19 November 2024)
-
- Question
- I wanna know when I can harvest the leaves from a RamGoat dashalong plant??
- Answer
- Dear Panda_444, good afternoon. Turnera ulmifolia (ramgoat dahsalong) isn't a species that grows in New England, so I am unable to offer you advice from direct experience with this plant. The leaves are used for a variety of medicinal effects, and aerial portions of many medicinal plants would be gathered when the plants are in flower and the leaves are fully expanded but not yet beginning to degrade in the Fall season. But, again, I can't offer you direct experience with this plant, so I would encourage you to ask someone from your area to assist. Best wishes. (Monday, 18 November 2024)
-
- Question
- Hi there, The native status of plants on this site goes down to county-level. If I want to plant something that is listed as native in an adjacent county, but as not native (county is left blank) in my own, is that OK? I would think that, since both counties sit within the same eco-region (Northeastern Coastal), it would be OK to do this. I would greatly appreciate any insight! Thanks
- Answer
- Dear djapierre, good afternoon. When conducting plans for ecologically ethical plantings, we try to do our best to plant species that are native to our local landscape. The scale that we use depends on our goals. County-level information is available and very useful. Using species from adjacent counties for planting is, again, dependent on your goals. It is a finer scale than most use and would not be intentionally planting things that are new to region. As you noted, many ecoregions consist of multiple counties in a given state. Staying within an ecoregion is typically considered a loadable goal for planting. Let me know if you have other ideas you wish to discuss. (Thursday, 14 November 2024)
-
- Question
- I'm having trouble identifying this low-growing plant / weed that I've recently found in my yard. Would love any assistance! I'm in central Connecticut.
- Answer
- Dear mdeuloco, good afternoon. You have photographed a species of Veronica (speedwell) in the Plantaginaceae. It looks most like Veronica serpyllifolia subsp. serpyllifolia, a common non-native species of lawns, clearings, fields, and similar habitats. Best wishes. (Thursday, 14 November 2024)
-
- Question
- Plant in Singapore, any idea what this plant may be? The white flowers smell abit like jasmine.
- Answer
- Dear nlneoln, good morning. I'm sorry I can't assist you with your question. Singapore is a long way from my region of expertise. Sometimes I recognize some of the species posted from other continents, but this time I am unable to help. I'm sorry I can't be of assistance. (Tuesday, 12 November 2024)
-
- Question
- hello botanist have you have any idea what plant/tree this is, that is wild possibly by a bird dropping. In Singapore
- Answer
- Dear nlneoln, good mornign. There are no images associated with your question. Without images, I won't be able to assist you. If you are having trouble uploading images, please feel free to attach the images to an email message and send them to ahaines@nativeplanttrust.org and I will try to assist. (Tuesday, 12 November 2024)
-
- Question
- what is your opinion on the effect of cars exhaust on plants do car exhaust make plant healthy? or do they kill the plant
- Answer
- Dear joeboy, it is known that car exhaust does pollute the soil and plants that are near the roadways. For example, lead levels in plants are higher near the road edges (from the time when lead was present in gasoline). I have not read research on a large number of contaminants, but those I have searched for in the scientific literature show that plants take up these pollutants and could be harmed by them. Best wishes. (Tuesday, 12 November 2024)
-
- Question
- I'd like to know what this plant is that I found growing near my home in southern Vermont. The leaves on this 14" tall plant measure about 1" long. I'm thinking it might be some type of Hawthorn but haven't found one with leaves that are as rounded at the tips as this. Thank you.
- Answer
- Dear lmc825, good morning. I can't see the image well enough to help you. I need a close-up of the nodes (where the leaves arise from the stem). If you have such images, feel free to send them to ahaines@nativeplanttrust.org and I can examine them. Looking forward to helping solve this mystery. Best wishes. (Tuesday, 12 November 2024)
-
- Question
- Dear Botanist, I found this plant growing in a patch of wrinkle-leaf goldenrod that I recently transplanted. It appears to be a perennial, and produces a burr. I believe I've seen the same plant growing in Mattera Cabin in Reading, MA. The attached pictures are from different times throughout the growing season. Could you please identify?
- Answer
- Dear Stephen, good morning. The plant you have photographed is a species of Geum (avens), which belong to the rose family. Based on the leaves, petal color, and clusters of achenes, you likely have captured Geum laciniatum (floodplain avens), a native species that frequently (but not exclusively) occurs in floodplain forests. (Friday, 25 October 2024)
-
- Question
- Dear Mr. Botanist, I found this low growing plant under a high-voltage right-of-way in Reading, MA. The area is very sunny and rocky, and it appears to be regularly cleared of vegetation. Could you identify?
- Answer
- Dear Stephan, the small ground cover with evergreen leaves and red fruits (berry-like capsules) is Gaultheria procumbens (eastern spicy-wintergreen). It is a fairly common subshrub (in the right habitats) and a native member of the heath family. Best wishes. (Wednesday, 23 October 2024)
