Identification – non-native?

By Rhiannonw

Mon, 18 Jun 2018
  • 1295 reads
4 comments
 

Seeds to attract nectar-loving wildlife:
we sow and watch the leaves
peep through, and grow –
awaiting flowers to identify,
distinguish weeds old  – and new?
Some shoots spring higher with pretty blue
flowers – is that a thistle coming – no,
but day by day we puzzle –
I search our many flora books
– some have paintings,
some have photos –
arranged by colour, similarities,
or time of flowering –
with no success.
Look closer, the inflorescence is
curled up like a caterpillar.
I try a questionnaire online –
identification key,
and it seems to be
a type of Virginia Waterleaf,
native to North America
– maybe?

 

Certificate U
Poem
Nature
Nature

Comments

Submitted by fatboy74 on

I really enjoyed this Rhiannon, I've had similar problems this year trying to identify butterflies with the children. 

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks, FB. When you know them, you know them, but trying to work out, especially with a key is so difficult, and of course, butterflies move off so suddenly. This north-American plant is supposed to have whitish marks on the leaves, as if water had been dropped on them. I think ours has, but its leaves are cut so finely, it is difficult to tell. Nice to have fun with the children. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Is it phacelia?

I like your poem :0)

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

You've got me quite excited now, Di! It does look like it, when I looked at Wikeipedia. So, I must see if that's in any of my flora too. It actually mentions the curling, coiling infloresence there. Thank you! I wondered if anyone may be able to make any suggestions, either British or American. Rhiannon