Puzzling weed
I stopped by the side of an A-road, and it had some self-seeded wheat and oilseed rape - easy. But there was a plant that baffled me. It looked and felt like a giganic sow thistle, with a stem 1 cm or more thich and a metre high. Its leaves were alternate, c. 20 cm long, and divided to 2/3 their depth into 5 rough-edged lobes. After handling it gently, my hand stank until I washed it. But the really puzzling thing was that its flower-bugs were in a sort of spire arrangment (line a loose Spirea). I can't even think of what family it might be. No picture, unfortunately, as my camera was packed. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
Puzzling weed
On 06/06/18 17:58, Nick Maclaren wrote:
I stopped by the side of an A-road, and it had some self-seeded wheat and oilseed rape - easy. But there was a plant that baffled me. It looked and felt like a giganic sow thistle, with a stem 1 cm or more thich and a metre high. Its leaves were alternate, c. 20 cm long, and divided to 2/3 their depth into 5 rough-edged lobes. After handling it gently, my hand stank until I washed it. But the really puzzling thing was that its flower-bugs were in a sort of spire arrangment (line a loose Spirea). I can't even think of what family it might be. No picture, unfortunately, as my camera was packed. Could it have been Hyoscyamus niger (henbane)? -- Jeff |
Puzzling weed
In article ,
Jeff Layman wrote: On 06/06/18 17:58, Nick Maclaren wrote: I stopped by the side of an A-road, and it had some self-seeded wheat and oilseed rape - easy. But there was a plant that baffled me. It looked and felt like a giganic sow thistle, with a stem 1 cm or more thich and a metre high. Its leaves were alternate, c. 20 cm long, and divided to 2/3 their depth into 5 rough-edged lobes. After handling it gently, my hand stank until I washed it. But the really puzzling thing was that its flower-bugs were in a sort of spire arrangment (line a loose Spirea). I can't even think of what family it might be. No picture, unfortunately, as my camera was packed. Could it have been Hyoscyamus niger (henbane)? Thanks, but not. There wasn't a hair in sight, and the leaves were smooth enough to be almost shiny. Also, I am pretty sure that it wasn't one of the Solanaceae. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
Puzzling weed
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Puzzling weed
In article ,
Bob Hobden wrote: I stopped by the side of an A-road, and it had some self-seeded wheat and oilseed rape - easy. But there was a plant that baffled me. It looked and felt like a giganic sow thistle, with a stem 1 cm or more thich and a metre high. Its leaves were alternate, c. 20 cm long, and divided to 2/3 their depth into 5 rough-edged lobes. After handling it gently, my hand stank until I washed it. But the really puzzling thing was that its flower-bugs were in a sort of spire arrangment (line a loose Spirea). I can't even think of what family it might be. No picture, unfortunately, as my camera was packed. Could it have been Hyoscyamus niger (henbane)? Thanks, but not. There wasn't a hair in sight, and the leaves were smooth enough to be almost shiny. Also, I am pretty sure that it wasn't one of the Solanaceae. First thought re the stink was Birthwort, Aristolochia clematis, but the leaves are wrong shape. Yes. Upon thinking it over, I am pretty sure that it is an exotic casual, but I can't guess from where the seed might have come. The reason that I discounted Solanaceae is the pattern of flower buds; while its leaves are very odd for those, the family is very variable, but it might be an anomaly, I suppose. It definitely wasn't any of the Daturas I know, just on the leaves. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
Puzzling weed
On 06/06/2018 17:58, Nick Maclaren wrote:
I stopped by the side of an A-road, and it had some self-seeded wheat and oilseed rape - easy. But there was a plant that baffled me. It looked and felt like a giganic sow thistle, with a stem 1 cm or more thich and a metre high. Its leaves were alternate, c. 20 cm long, and divided to 2/3 their depth into 5 rough-edged lobes. After handling it gently, my hand stank until I washed it. But the really puzzling thing was that its flower-bugs were in a sort of spire arrangment (line a loose Spirea). I can't even think of what family it might be. Were the leaves palmately or pinnately lobed? Cicerbita crosses my mind, but I don't know anything about its foliage odour if any. No picture, unfortunately, as my camera was packed. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
Puzzling weed
In article ,
Stewart Robert Hinsley wrote: I stopped by the side of an A-road, and it had some self-seeded wheat and oilseed rape - easy. But there was a plant that baffled me. It looked and felt like a giganic sow thistle, with a stem 1 cm or more thich and a metre high. Its leaves were alternate, c. 20 cm long, and divided to 2/3 their depth into 5 rough-edged lobes. After handling it gently, my hand stank until I washed it. But the really puzzling thing was that its flower-bugs were in a sort of spire arrangment (line a loose Spirea). I can't even think of what family it might be. Were the leaves palmately or pinnately lobed? Pinnately. Cicerbita crosses my mind, but I don't know anything about its foliage odour if any. Thanks but, if the Wikipedia picture is typical, the leaves were wrong. I really should have unpacked my camera :-( Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
Puzzling weed
On 08/06/18 23:43, Nick Maclaren wrote:
Thanks but, if the Wikipedia picture is typical, the leaves were wrong. I really should have unpacked my camera :-( Would it be worth looking at the BSBI webpages, or even contacting them to see if anything resembling your plant has been reported in the area? -- Jeff |
Puzzling weed
In article ,
Jeff Layman wrote: On 08/06/18 23:43, Nick Maclaren wrote: Thanks but, if the Wikipedia picture is typical, the leaves were wrong. I really should have unpacked my camera :-( Would it be worth looking at the BSBI webpages, or even contacting them to see if anything resembling your plant has been reported in the area? Thanks. I will. I could revisit the area, and see if it has started to flower. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
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