Unidentified crop

Discussion in 'Plants: Identification' started by hortiphoto, Nov 3, 2018.

  1. hortiphoto

    hortiphoto Active Member 10 Years

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    I found this plant being grown in two large fields in mid-Canterbury, New Zealand.

    My first thought was that it may be in the Boraginaceae but I couldn't find anything that looked like it. The distinguishing features are the minute, very pale blue, 5-petalled flowers; relatively long, perfoliate leaves; sprawling angular stems; and someone inflated seed capsules or buds (couldn't get close enough to find out which).

    Any ideas?
     

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  2. Silver surfer

    Silver surfer Generous Contributor 10 Years

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    DSCF3339.jpg Cannot get a good enough view.
    By zooming in there seem to be at least 2 different flowers.
    1. Is very clearly a small white Viola sp.
     
  3. hortiphoto

    hortiphoto Active Member 10 Years

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    Yes, forgot to mention to ignore the little viola. It's the other plant that's the mystery.
     
  4. wcutler

    wcutler Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout 10 Years

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    A Myosotis? Here is Myosotis alpestris 'Ultramarine': Myosotis alpestris 'Ultramarine' |. I don't have time right now to even check whether it is supposed to grow in New Zealand.
     
  5. thanrose

    thanrose Active Member 10 Years

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    In the 3rd pic, is the more robust stem that of the tiny florets in question? Looks like it to me. (I think this lovely little violet has the longer crenate leaves.) If so, the questioned plant's leaves are opposite and sessile.

    I've nothing else to offer on this. Oh, if you call it a crop, do you believe it has been intentionally planted? If that's the case, it could be oil-producing, forage, or nitrogen-fixing. Possibly for something like phyto-remediation. There's always something new and interesting in bioremediation.
     
  6. Silver surfer

    Silver surfer Generous Contributor 10 Years

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    Now you tell me!

    I had a good look at other wee flowers...5 petal tiny.
    Stems appear to be square. Leaves opposite...wonder if it is Lamiaceae.
    Trimmed pic down again differently.
    DSCF3339-001.jpg
     
  7. hortiphoto

    hortiphoto Active Member 10 Years

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    Myosotis are certainly available in NZ. We have several native species. However, the flowers lack the raised central area , the fornice, that is so typical of Myosotis.
     
  8. hortiphoto

    hortiphoto Active Member 10 Years

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    Lamiaceae is certainly a possibility.

    Actually, I'm wondering if the violas that were so abundant around the edge of the field are a clue. This area is heavily involved in seed production. Many of the Northern Hemisphere seed companies use it for out-of-season production of the parent strains for their F1 hybrids. Perhaps this field was previously used to produce pansy seed. If the other plant is a parent strain for a bedding plant hybrid it may not look much like a plant we're familiar with, either in gardens or in the wild.
     
  9. hortiphoto

    hortiphoto Active Member 10 Years

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    .

    Forage is unlikely in this area, and it's unlikely that it would be allowed to go to seed if it was a cover crop, but it's quite possible that it's a trial planting of an oil-seed crop or a pseudo-cereal. Regrettably, there were no local farmers present to ask.
     
  10. Lila Pereszke

    Lila Pereszke Well-Known Member 10 Years

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    Valerianella cf. locusta / Caprifoliaceae (previously Valerianaceae)
     
    Sundrop and Tyrlych like this.
  11. hortiphoto

    hortiphoto Active Member 10 Years

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    That's certainly it. Thank you. I can only assume it's being grown for seed as there doesn't seem to have been any effort to harvest it as a salad crop.
     

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