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Old 01-05-2007, 10:42 PM posted to rec.gardens
Kay Lancaster Kay Lancaster is offline
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First recorded activity by GardenBanter: Jul 2006
Posts: 481
Default Please help ID this plant

Thought it might be an Oak seedling but maybe its something else?

http://www.geocities.com/kalmia332001/100_0740.jpg


Not an oak... oaks have alternate leaves with lobed, but not divided,
leaf blades.

Not poison ivy... PI has alternate leaves also, trifoliolate, with a stalked
central leaflet.

Possibly an ash seedling, though most species have young leaves with 5-7
leaflets instead of just three. Leaves are opposite in most species.

Most likely a box elder seedling, Acer negundo -- youngest leaves are often
trifoliolate, with a central stalked petiole, but leaves are opposite
and what I see of the petiole looks good for A. negundo. Here's a
nice series of photos:
http://www.sbs.utexas.edu/mbierner/bio406D/images/pics/ace/acer_negundo.htm

Check the petiole base shape on your seedling vs. the ash you mention and
the photos of A. negundo. Also pull off a leaf (not a leaflet) and check
the patterns of the main veins leading into the stem -- in the fall, these
will be the "dots" inside the leaf scar.

Where was the photo taken?

Kay