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Name That Plant!

Identification of possible bird seed plant

9 years ago

Hello, my garden is absolutely covered with this. Although it pulls out easily it has overrun my garden. Since I have never seen it before and my neighbours don't seem to have the seem problem, I strongly suspect it is an ingredient of birdseed that has gone uneaten since I spread seed on the ground to attract non-perchers such as cardinals. My questions: what is it? Is it edible by humans? I'd like to avoid buying birdseed that contains seeds that birds don't like and which has shrouded my garden and crowded out all my salad greens. And I'm just curious at this rather thriving invader!

This post was edited by XanderMac on Sat, Aug 2, 14 at 15:36

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Comments (8)

XanderMac
Original Author
9 years ago
Here's a picture of a plant that has overtaken my garden. I strongly suspect it is an ingredient of bird seed that I spread liberally for non-perching birds such as cardinals. It is carpeted, though it pulls out easily. It appears possibly edible, but of course I'd like to confirm what it actually is.
XanderMac
Original Author
9 years ago
Second picture
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I believe it may actually be a Heliconia. It could be a cultivar of H. psittacorum which is the most frequently available species, but thats only a guess. Those do appear to be maturing seed capsules you pointed out.
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I have about 100 plants that made it from seed lol, I planted them as a border thinking the thyme would hang over the rocks. I'll have to post pics once they flower. However this year the only flowers that have bloomed are poppies, and they are just now blooming. I'm guessing because we really had no spring, winter ran very late and then it just got hot and we've had more rain days than dry days. Even our lilacs never flowered.
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Thank you for the idea. It does sort of resemble that plant, even the seed.
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Carrie B
9 years ago
Three seeded Mercury, Acalypha, I believe.

Here is a link that might be useful: Acalypha
nonmember_gw
9 years ago
Pilea pumila?
lycopus
9 years ago
Agree with Pilea. You can probably find pictures of the seed online and inspect your birdseed for it.
weedwoman
9 years ago
Looks like Pilea pumila (Clearweed, for the juicy translucent stems) to me, too. A common weed, nothing to do with bird seed as far as I know.

WW
XanderMac
Original Author
9 years ago
It certainly does look to be Pilea or Clearweed. The odd thing is that I live in a dense downtown neighbourhood with tiny townhouse back yards and we're the only one with it as far as I can tell. And I've never seen it before. Suddenly, it is the only thing thriving in our garden. That was why I suspected birdseed...but it seems an unlikely ingredient. Thanks, all.
weedwoman
9 years ago
It does seem like one of those plants where if you have any you have a lot. It's easy to pull up, though.

WW

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