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Name That Plant!

Strange purple flower

bernadette_gourder

15 years ago

Hi!

I should have asked you about this flower a long while back. During the summer I found this plant that reminded me of a giant aster growing in our tree line on our farm. It wasn't though, I am pretty sure. It was a group of plants, one long stem, leaves near the bottom, a single flower head on the top, a ball shape. Can anyone identify this flower with this little to go on?

Thank you for your help!

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Comments (5)

SusanC
15 years ago
Tragopogon porrifolius, purple salsify?

Here is a link that might be useful: Tragopogon porrifolius, purple salsify
bernadette_gourder
Original Author
15 years ago
That is certainly a good guess. . . It is so hard to say if that's it or not. It may be although I remember it having a larger bloom, more rounded. It's hard to remember . . . I also don't remember those type of grassy leaves.
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Thanks for the replies lazy, mammie, and rox. I think it might be a Veronica of some sort after googling the other plants. I'm still not 100% sure on that though. Here is a up close leaf shot if it helps to confirm it is in fact a sort of Veronica plant.
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The example in your photo may be misleading you as that is what it looks like after the actual flowers have dropped off. In the background of the picture on the left is a boom with the blue flowers still on it.
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Another common name is "Hardy Ageratum" because it looks like the shorter annual flower sold as Ageratum. A great old-fashioned "pass-along" plant that spreads over time by underground runners.
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Ouch! Hard to believe someone would grow that on purpose.
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SusanC
15 years ago
Then perhaps a Centaurea.

Here is a link that might be useful: Centaurea site
fatamorgana2121
15 years ago
Salsify is also called John-go-to-bed-at-noon. Yep, you guessed it. The flowers close at midday. So if you saw the purple flowers late in the day that would effectively rule out salsify.

Salsify also gets seed heads that look like dandelion blow-balls on steriods - that is if the finches and other seed eaters don't get to them first!

FataMorgana
bernadette_gourder
Original Author
15 years ago
I think it is Centaurea - the Greater Knapweed.
Thanks so much!

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