Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

Plant Identification => Plant Identification Questions and Answers => Topic started by: annew on September 27, 2007, 02:49:31 PM

Title: Mystery composite.and crucifer
Post by: annew on September 27, 2007, 02:49:31 PM
Does anyone know what this plant is? It was growing on an piece of waste ground, here in Yorkshire, and was about 25cm high. The flowers are about 2.5-3cm across. Thanks.
Title: Re: Mystery composite.
Post by: annew on September 27, 2007, 02:50:43 PM
These are really bad photos, if you need better I'll try again later when the other camera is home!
Title: Re: Mystery composite.
Post by: mark smyth on September 27, 2007, 02:55:59 PM
Niger?
Title: Re: Mystery composite.
Post by: annew on September 27, 2007, 04:11:05 PM
Jolly close but I googled it to www.aphotoflora.com, and it's not right. Sepals are pointed and narrow on mine, and the leaf bases are clasping.
Title: Re: Mystery composite.
Post by: mark smyth on September 27, 2007, 05:01:07 PM
David Fenwick's site!
Title: Re: Mystery composite.
Post by: mark smyth on September 27, 2007, 05:55:37 PM
any tighter shots?
Title: Re: Mystery composite.
Post by: annew on September 27, 2007, 07:41:17 PM
Here are some more shots.
Title: Re: Mystery composite.
Post by: Gerdk on September 27, 2007, 07:46:40 PM
I do hope that it is not Senecio inaequidens which finally reached the UK and Ireland. This is an Southafrican escaped weed, the seeds were introduced to Germany together with wool.
It is a specialist for very dry conditions and covers the margins of the
 ' Autobahn ' for endless kilometers here. Unfortunately quite hardy.

Gerd
Title: Re: Mystery composite.
Post by: annew on September 27, 2007, 07:47:23 PM
And More
Title: Re: Mystery composite.
Post by: annew on September 27, 2007, 07:54:13 PM
Oh, Gerd, you are right! :o
See http://www.ideboda.nl/herbarium/compositae/senecioinaequidens.html
We're Doomed!
Title: Re: Mystery composite.
Post by: Gerdk on September 27, 2007, 08:15:21 PM
I hope you will not send your American squirrels to the continent in return.

Gerd
Title: Re: Mystery composite.
Post by: annew on September 27, 2007, 08:43:28 PM
Funnily enough, I have a trap set for one underneath my hazelnut bush just now, so beware!
Title: Re: Mystery composite.
Post by: annew on September 28, 2007, 11:44:25 AM
Didn't catch the squirrel >:(
Since you did so well on the composite, how about this crucifer? I've spent ages looking through books and the net. It's about 25cm across, and I think the flowers were yellow. Note the leaves are hairy.
Title: Re: Mystery composite.
Post by: Paul T on September 28, 2007, 12:12:43 PM
If the flowers are white not yellow then it looks like what we call "Flick Weed" (because when mature any touch sends the seeds flicking off for great distances).  If so, it's an absolute bane of our existence here, seeding prolifically and becoming an absolute pain in the proverbial.

But, judging by my recent comments on things I'm likely to be wrong, which in this case would be a good thing!!  ;D  I do know that there are other not-as-invasive species of the plant, including a double flowered form that doesn't set seed and has lovely pink flowers..... but it produces offsets on teh surface of the leaves which concerns me as well.  I can't bring myself to even try it given how bad the flick weed is.  Hopefully someone else comes up with something better and less seedy for you identification-wise.
Title: Re: Mystery composite.
Post by: Gerdk on September 28, 2007, 12:42:06 PM
Sorry, don't know what it is. Does not grow along the Autobahn.
Gerd
Title: Re: Mystery composite and crucifer
Post by: Paul T on September 28, 2007, 01:09:27 PM
OK, as far as I can work out our flick weed here looks just like (and I am assuming IS) Cardamine hirsuta......
http://www.dgsgardening.btinternet.co.uk/hairybcrs.htm
Also known as Hairy Bittercress apparently.

The leaves on yours look a little different, but close enough and similar enough seedpod etc that I'd have to be putting it very closely into the same family.  Does that help you in identification?

Title: Re: Mystery composite and crucifer
Post by: annew on September 28, 2007, 01:47:42 PM
Thanks Paul, I'm unfortunately well acquainted with Hairy Bittercress - we call it poppers. This plant was altogether bigger.
Title: Re: Mystery composite and crucifer
Post by: SueG on September 28, 2007, 02:19:34 PM
Anne
is it an Erucastrum gallicum - sometimes called hairy rocket? http://www.colinherb.com/Cruciferae/Erucastrum/Gallicum/Erucastrum_gallicum.htm (http://www.colinherb.com/Cruciferae/Erucastrum/Gallicum/Erucastrum_gallicum.htm)
Sue
Title: Re: Mystery composite.and crucifer
Post by: annew on September 28, 2007, 05:27:02 PM
Hmm, no, the leaves are different.
Title: Re: Mystery composite.and crucifer
Post by: Maggi Young on September 28, 2007, 05:33:22 PM
Funny thing,is, the leaves of the mystery crucifer are very like a ragwort of some sort, aren't they?
How clever nature is at confusing us... almost as cunning as those ******taxonomists! ;D
Title: Re: Mystery composite.and crucifer
Post by: Anthony Darby on September 28, 2007, 07:15:09 PM
Could be Wintercress (Barbarea vulgaris), but then again it has glossy leaves?
Title: Re: Mystery composite.and crucifer
Post by: Anthony Darby on September 28, 2007, 07:43:04 PM
Perhaps Eastern Rocket (Sisymbrium orientale)?


edit: as a suggestion for the composite ?
Title: Re: Mystery composite.and crucifer
Post by: Paul T on September 28, 2007, 10:00:17 PM
Anne,

Ah well, I was right..... I got it wrong.  Not having a good run for helping at the moment.  That's 3 recent strikes, so I'm out!!  ;D
Title: Re: Mystery composite.and crucifer
Post by: annew on September 28, 2007, 10:46:06 PM
You are suffering under the disadvantage of being several thousand miles away from the British flora, Paul!
Anthony I think this one is Barbarea verna, maybe?
Title: Re: Mystery composite.and crucifer
Post by: Tiggrx on September 29, 2007, 09:21:54 AM
Looks like Wavy Bitter-cress (Cardamine flexuosa)
Title: Re: Mystery composite.and crucifer
Post by: Maggi Young on September 29, 2007, 11:00:00 AM
Quote
That's 3 recent strikes, so I'm out!!
Okay, the cake's on you, then!
Title: Re: Mystery composite.and crucifer
Post by: Anthony Darby on September 29, 2007, 01:57:09 PM
I thought you said the flowers were yellow Anne?
Title: Re: Mystery composite.and crucifer
Post by: annew on September 29, 2007, 10:30:07 PM
Well, I think I saw yellow flowers on another plant of it. Google's pics of Cardamine flexuosa don't have the right leaves either :-\
Title: Re: Mystery composite.and crucifer
Post by: derekb on September 30, 2007, 04:50:47 PM
Ann I am most likely being a complete IDIOT but it lokks very much like water cress, I have it in my pond and if it gets to thick I throw it on spare ground and it grows just like that.

Derek
Title: Re: Mystery composite.and crucifer
Post by: Maggi Young on September 30, 2007, 04:53:09 PM
I see what you mean, Derek, but I think the leaves are too hairy for water cress.
Title: Re: Mystery composite.and crucifer
Post by: annew on September 30, 2007, 09:20:57 PM
I've got to go back next week so I'll bring back a hostage if I can find it again.
Title: Re: Mystery composite.and crucifer
Post by: Gerdk on October 01, 2007, 06:00:15 PM
Anne,
Please look at my posting to Ashley (Townsendia).

Gerd
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