Please help with ID

Discussion in 'Plants: Identification' started by babushka, Oct 14, 2009.

  1. babushka

    babushka Member

    Messages:
    25
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Philadelphia, USA
    Here is a plant growing in the wild on the side of the road in the wooded area in South New Jersey. It a side road from main road to the beach on Delaware Bay. We've been using this road for about 7 years when getting to our fishing spot, but this is the first summer I noticed it. Plant is big at least 6', flowers are yellow and not showy (I was not able to get a pic in flower); has runners. You can see leaves pretty good and seed pods somewhat. Sorry the pics are not too good. As close as I came up - some kind of silphium, but not too sure.
     

    Attached Files:

  2. babushka

    babushka Member

    Messages:
    25
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Philadelphia, USA
    I found out what it is - Large-flowered (yellow-flowered) leafcup - Polymnia uvedalia.
    http://www.missouriplants.com/Yellowopp/Polymnia_uvedalia_page.html
    I was looking up Small-flowred leafcup, Polymnia canadensis, when I saw a picture I recognized. I am pretty happy to know what it is now. I think it will make an interesting specimen plant in part shade garden and I am trying to start it from seeds I collected.
     
  3. thanrose

    thanrose Active Member 10 Years

    Messages:
    800
    Likes Received:
    55
    Location:
    Jacksonville, FL USA USDA Zone 9
    I'm from South Jersey originally. Don't think I've ever seen this one. Good luck with growing them. The USDA says they are endangered in New Jersey, calling this one Smallanthus uvedalius, but the picture from the same page calls it Polymnia uvedalia.
     
  4. babushka

    babushka Member

    Messages:
    25
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Philadelphia, USA
    Hi thanrose,
    I saw that mentioning on USDA of them being endangered in NJ. That might explain why I never seen them before. I only got 5 seeds and started moist cold stratification for them (thinking that's what they get in the wild - blooming in late summer and seeds getting ripe in October). On one of the websites it was saying easy propagation from seed, but no specifics. We'll see what happens. I remember the spot where they grow and can always go back for more seeds next fall. I am a bit concerned with putting them in my semi-shade garden as they seem to spread by rhizomatous roots and I don't know how easy to control they are, but I can always put them at the edge of the woods in the back of our property and help them spread around Jersey. That's if they sprout and do well. :)
     
  5. babushka

    babushka Member

    Messages:
    25
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Philadelphia, USA
    WOW, and I put them in the fridge!

    I found some info on horizonherbs.com: Polymnia uvedalia.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 20, 2010
  6. thanrose

    thanrose Active Member 10 Years

    Messages:
    800
    Likes Received:
    55
    Location:
    Jacksonville, FL USA USDA Zone 9
    The cold may or may not have helped, but I doubt it hurt.

    The flash fire is interesting. Some pines need a fire for the years old cones to open and drop seed, and have room to grow.

    Let us know how this works for you.
     

Share This Page