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Name That Plant!

Unknown plant - looks like small locust

11 years ago

Hello! I'm trying to identify a plant growing in eastern West Virginia (see photos). The plant seems to be herbaceous (non-woody), and grows to a height of about two feet. It seems to be a perennial, since I see several growing in the exact same place every year. The leaves and seed pods look very similar to a black locust tree. The habitat is an open field (surrounded by forest), well-drained, approximately 800 feet above sea level. Any ideas? Thanks

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Comments (6)

rowejr
Original Author
11 years ago
here's another pictures of the same plant (close-up).

Also, I didn't find any thorns on these plants.
fatamorgana2121
11 years ago
I would think a Senna, though I'm not personally familiar with those plants.

FataMorgana
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RugbyHukr
11 years ago
Rub the leaves. If they smell like buttered popcorn, you have Cassia (Senna) didymobotrya.
rowejr
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks - I'll crush some leaves this weekend and let you know the results. If it is Cassia (Senna), it seems amazing to find it in the hills of West Virginia! From my quick research on the web, I understand this is a native of Africa, and generally prefers frost-less habitats.
lisanti07028
11 years ago
There are at least a couple of Sennas native to WV, and you may have one of those - look up hebecarpa and marilandica.
eahamel
11 years ago
There are some native cassias. We call them Senna, but I don't think they're the real senna. They have pretty yellow blooms. They're all over central Texas.

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