can you help me identify this weed?

[Tiam]

I can't come up with an identification. It's not salsify, star thistle, or dandelion. Any ideas?



1299

[iris lilies]

boy howdy, that thing is weird. Looks like cotton, dandelion, Missouri primrose, and the tropical Zebra plant (Aphelandra squarrosa) all rolled into one.

[SvenV]

WOW that looks pretty...

I think that is some kind of tea, I am not sure... but my grandfather had something similar in his garden and he made tea from that.... so, maybe give them a try... Because I think that you can't smoke that kind of weed;)

[Merski]

Could it be a biennial vegetable accidentaly left in the garden that has gone to seed? Most of us who are not seed savers would not recognize veggies in bloom.

[CathyA]

Email the agricultural agent in your area. He/she should know. I've never seen anything like it!

[goldensmom]

Looks scary. I've never seen anything like it but if you like it, it is a flower.

[rodeosweetheart]

Looks scary. I've never seen anything like it but if you like it, it is a flower.
I am wondering if it is some kind of milk thistle variant?

[CathyA]

Weird that it seems to be getting ready to flower AND putting out tons of seeds...........unless all those white puffs aren't seeds..........

[Tussiemussies]

Wow -- that is really unusual!

[early morning]

I'd say - lettuce. There are tons of varieties - and seeds will often revert to an earlier incarnation. I've had lettuce bolt and look similar, but not as cool as what you've got! I've also have volunteer lettuce that was not the same as the variety planted previously.

Let us know what you find out!

[Gregg]

I am wondering if it is some kind of milk thistle variant?

I'm guessing some kind of thistle as well. Either that or something that escaped from a Monsanto lab...

[rodeosweetheart]

I'm guessing some kind of thistle as well. Either that or something that escaped from a Monsanto lab...

You don;'t live near Plum Island, do you, lol?

[Gregg]

Lol...actually closer to Three Mile Island.

[CathyA]

Gosh.....I just took another look and hadn't even noticed the yellow flowers! What are those pink/red things?
Yep......definitely looks like some nuclear fallout got to it. hahaha

[CathyA]

Some sort of Knapweed? Russian?

[CathyA]

Is it possible that its more than one plant? Are those pink pods leaves that will open, or are they seed pods?
Thanks Tiam.........you've given me one more thing to get OCD about. hahaha I love figuring things out!

[redfox]

Where do you live? That will help!

[CathyA]

Under her avatar it says "southern Oregon".

[Tiam]

I'd say - lettuce. There are tons of varieties - and seeds will often revert to an earlier incarnation. I've had lettuce bolt and look similar, but not as cool as what you've got! I've also have volunteer lettuce that was not the same as the variety planted previously.

Let us know what you find out!


That's what it turned out to be! I've never let lettuce go to seed, so it was news to me!

[CathyA]

Interesting. I'm still curious what those red rod-like things are.

[herbgeek]

I've never seen any lettuce that I let go to seed look anything like THAT, so I'm surprised.

[Tiam]

Those are the seed heads before they open?

[CathyA]

So the fluffy things aren't seeds?

[early morning]

The reddish things would be the seed heads, yes. The fluffy things are the seed dispersal system - like a dandelion ... it blooms, the bloom closes up (the reddish stage in this case) and then, when ready, it opens again with the fluff ready to catch a breeze and sail away with the seed. Plants are endlessly fascinating!

[CathyA]

So early morning.........are you saying that the fluffy things in the picture are the red pods that have already opened?

[Gregg]

I've never seen any lettuce that I let go to seed look anything like THAT, so I'm surprised.

Same here. Evolution produces some curious specimens, especially if they are evolving around Round-Up.

[early morning]

CathyA - yes, that's right.

[CathyA]

Thanks early morning.

[Tiam]

So early morning.........are you saying that the fluffy things in the picture are the red pods that have already opened?


I think it's before the flower head opens.

[Tiam]

Here's a new one....it has stumped me. Not the blackberry, the grey green one. I'm in Southern Oregon, if that helps. 1302 Click on it to make it bigger. Any ideas?

[Rosemary]

It's a bit unfocused, but the growth pattern looks like a mint family plant or dead nettle.

[CathyA]

Are you referring to the white flowers?
Is that virginia creeper next to it?

[Tiam]

The dark green is blackberry. The light green is unknown to me. It doesn't look like any mint or dead nettle I know of that grows around here.

[Tiam]

1303 This is a better picture, but I'm still mystified.

[Rosemary]

Very interesting. Does it have a fuzzy texture like lamb's ears? What shape is the stem?

[CathyA]

I was thinking some form of lamb's ears too.

[Tiam]

I agree it looks lambs ear-ish, but I'm not sure about the flower. The stem is round and fleshy. Plus the way it spreads on the ground is a bit different.