Identification: Can someone please identify this plant?

Discussion in 'Indoor and Greenhouse Plants' started by ravenshadow861, Jul 1, 2008.

  1. ravenshadow861

    ravenshadow861 Member

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    I bought a plant from my local floral shop and found this little guy growing in the pot. It has small corn-cob-like buds (maybe) coming in (you can see one under the upper left leaf if you zoom in) and a small amount of fuzz on each leaf (zoom in to see). Any guidance at all to identify this plant would be wonderful!
     

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  2. mkk

    mkk Active Member

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    It looks like a hydrangea to me.
     
  3. Cereusly Steve

    Cereusly Steve Active Member

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    No way a Hydrangea. Note the square stem.

    More likely a weedy greenhouse annual.

    Probably Pilea pumila.
     
  4. Michael F

    Michael F Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    Sorry, don't know, but not Hydrangea; this does not appear to be a woody plant.
     
  5. ravenshadow861

    ravenshadow861 Member

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    Looked up Hydrangia and it doesn't seem to fit. However, the small buds have now bloomed into white, fluffy flowers...teeny-tiny flowers, but flowers nonetheless. The plant is about five inches tall right now, but seems to be growing fast.
     
  6. Michael F

    Michael F Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    Can you post a close-up pic of the flowers?
     
  7. ravenshadow861

    ravenshadow861 Member

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    Can't get a hold of a better camera for a closer-up shot. I will try to do some work with photos I have to try to get a bigger image. But....Someone suggested that it might be a China Doll. Would that fit?
     
  8. saltcedar

    saltcedar Rising Contributor 10 Years

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    Not Radermachera sinica 'China Doll' which has pinnately compound leaves.

    Regards
    Chris
     
  9. wild-rose-43

    wild-rose-43 Active Member

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    No it's definitely not a China Doll - Not Radermachera anyway. I suppose China Doll could be the common name for another plant.
     
  10. Sambo

    Sambo Member

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    How about Chenille Plant? (Acalypha hispida)
     
  11. mkk

    mkk Active Member

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    You know it could be a white mulberry (very young though).(Morus alba)
     
  12. Silver surfer

    Silver surfer Generous Contributor 10 Years

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    Don't think that it can be Morus alba. Morus alba has alternate leaves. Photo looks like opposite.Not a clue what it is! Would like to see the flower.
     
  13. Bulbosa

    Bulbosa Member

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    It could even be a tree seedling. It doesn't look 100% like a houseplant to me at all.
    I do get a sense of deja-vu from it though.
     
  14. namawa

    namawa Active Member

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    I would have no idea which one....but I think it's a weed. Sorry:(
     
  15. Cereusly Steve

    Cereusly Steve Active Member

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    Its Pilea pumila, a weedy annual.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 13, 2008
  16. ravenshadow861

    ravenshadow861 Member

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    Okay folks...It's been a little bit of a wait for my mystery plant to bloom and for my camera to capture it, but here are a few good pics of the "blooms." As you can see, there are two types of blooms: one a fuzzy growth above the leaves; the other a puffy looking bloom-ball that grows under the leaves. I think the chenille plant might be closest, but I need some confirmation. I've never had an unidentified plant in my home....
     

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  17. saltcedar

    saltcedar Rising Contributor 10 Years

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    Last edited: Jul 19, 2008
  18. Silver surfer

    Silver surfer Generous Contributor 10 Years

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  19. ravenshadow861

    ravenshadow861 Member

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    The images of the ostryaefolia I found at http://www.missouriplants.com/Greenalt/Acalypha_ostryaefolia_page.html seem to match perfectly, and also explain why there seem to be multiple types of flowers! But, after some looking around, it looks like my plant is a weed, after all (which explains why it is so hardy). What should I do with it? If I keep it, will it affect (or infect) my other plants (or even my state)?
     
  20. Bulbosa

    Bulbosa Member

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    Ah, my sense of plant deja vu was right again. It's related to the ornamental Acalypha plants with the long "cat tail" flower heads. The leaves are somewhat similar. Shame my plant deja vu doesn't ever grow into a plant name though ;-)
     

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