Mystery plant thread
Someone on TGN suggested that we have some fun "mystery plant" posts. So here is one.
Can you identify the plant in these pictures?
Partial credit for the general plant type, but for full points you have to get the specific variety right.
I'd like to ask @gardneto76 NOT to give the answer. :-)
Hints: edible perennial, grows back readily when cut, small bulb-like root, prefers hot climates, multiplies from the root
Comments
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Looks like chives, possibly garlic chives or spring onions.
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@Lisa K I agree that they look like chives or onions (bunching).
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I'm going to say onion chives.
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The correct answer is...onions.
Any idea what variety of onions these might be?
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Shallots or multipliers (aka potato onion)?
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Answer: these are I'itoi, a rare type of bunching onion adapted to dry desert climates such as the American Southwest.
They have an interesting flavor that works well in dishes that call for scallions.
When cut, they grow back. They will multiply from the root instead of making seeds.
Their origin is lost in history, but goes back to at least 1699, when religious orders brought them to the Spanish colonies.
Now it's someone else's turn. Post a picture of your mystery plant, and a short description. Then we can try to guess what it is!
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Next mystery...
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Is it something growing on a rotten log? Maybe the fungi "Dead Man's Fingers?
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It looks like pinning of blue oyster mushrooms.
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@VermontCathy I am so glad the I’toli onions are doing well for you!
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BINGO! It is dead man's fingers😅
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Aren't they awesome😊. Ok- who's next to send a mystery plant?! This is fun😋
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Sorry about the grass stems in the way.
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Looks like a Fly Trap plant, possibly Drosera?
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@Lisa K Yes, one of the Sundews! Great Sundew, Drosera anglica. I took this picture laying on the boardwalk in the warm swamp/bog that is created by the overflow from Liard Hotsprings. There are two species there that grow side by side. D. anglica and D. rotundifolia (Round-leaved Sundew).
I was so excited to find them. It was the first time I had seen them growing in the wild. So cool to be able to get the magnification to see the "dew drops", which are actually drops of a sticky mucilage that the plant uses to trap insects.
Next?
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@torey it is a very cool picture and I was not sure since it did appear to be in a yard, most I have seen are the ones in pots that you put in the house.
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I'm glad everyone is enjoying the thread.
Here's another one for you to guess:
Hint: This plant is usually grown outdoors as a hearty, cool-tolerant vegetable that is cooked or used in salads, but it also makes a great winter shoot when grown inside under lights. The shoots have a mild taste and are great on sandwiches.
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It reminds me of creeping Charlie, but I don't think it actually is.
My guess is broccoli.
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It looks like my kale leaves.
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@LaurieLovesLearning is correct! It is broccoli.
@kbmbillups1 is a near-miss. Broccoli and kale are both part of the brassica family, so the leaves are likely to be similar. Kale, broccoli, cabbage, mustard, and brussel sprouts are all closely related plants in the same family.
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This pic was taken where the plant is now growing wild but it is a garden vegetable that has escaped and is now naturalized to the area. Any ideas?
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It looks like an Asparagus Fern, does it have small thorns? If it, it will take over the entire yard!
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@Lisa K You're on the right track but this is a veggie.
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Asparagus!
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I also think it's asparagus.😊
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@LaurieLovesLearning and @JennyT Upstate South Carolina Yes, you are both right! Asparagus.
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I have two of the plumosa (asparagus setaceus) inside. I call them my man eating plants. Those thorns are the nastiest things ever!
Here are the varieties found:
https://www.betterplanter.com/asparagus-fern-types/
I also had a suicide plant. I think it was actually a spider plant. It was up high on a shelf and of course, growth was all to one side. When the soil dried too much, it would fall off. We always joked that it jumped. Somehow, it was never damaged by its jump. It got moved and is much happier in its new home. It also gets watered more often. 😆
Another plant recently got a nickname. We didn't use it enough, so it was just as quickly forgotten. If it comes up again, I'll share.
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@LaurieLovesLearning I so agree about the thorns and once it gets started, it is almost impossible to get rid of!
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Those berries on the asparagus taste great too*- interesting because you would think they are sweet cause they are red berries- but they taste like asparagus😲
*CAUTION: DO NOT EAT! Please read further in this thread. You will find that Nicksamanda did determine that asparagus berries should not be eaten. She gave a reminder to know your plant & plant part safety before ingesting any part of a plant.
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@nicksamanda11 never thought of trying asparagus berries! Thank you for the hint.
we used to have the asparagus twigs for flower bouquets.
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