Question: A friend, (Cathy Williamson), found & photographed this plant in West Falmouth, MA. Her phone id was 'Goldenroot'. Because she …
-
Question
A friend, (Cathy Williamson), found & photographed this plant in West Falmouth, MA. Her phone id was 'Goldenroot'. Because she hadn't seen this plant before, she asked me to id it for her. I thought perhaps Rhodiola rosea L. using my guides and the NE Flora. Cathy collected a flowering stalk, which I photographed and pressed. Attached are Cathy's photos of the collection site and my photographs of the collected stalk. Normal range for Rhodiola is not MA, so maybe I'm wrong. Thanks, Carol Knox
Answer
Dear Carol, good morning to you. This is a species of Lespedeza (bush-clover). I'm not able to give you a confident identification with the images supplied, in part due to the extensive hybridization that occurs in this genus. The corolla color suggests and leaflet dimensions suggest this is allied to Lespedeza capitata. It may be that species or a hybrid with it. I would not be able to tell you more without a specimen. Best wishes.
