01-05-2007, 11:33 PM
posted to rec.gardens
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First recorded activity by GardenBanter: May 2007
Posts: 5
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Please help ID this plant
On May 1, 5:42 pm, Kay Lancaster wrote:
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_negun...
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
In central Maryland.
mitch
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