That's it! THANKS ltcollins1949! If anyone wants a copy of this, let me know; you can have for cost of postage/shipping and advice on how you want shipped. Obviously not a medicinal plant as I'd thought, from the research I've done, but used in certain food preparation plus attractive plant, period. Meantime, I'm going to take some of these to three little family-run Mexican food restaurants here and see if they'd like some. I am remembering that a garden helper a few years ago brought me some tamales, which she called "Guatamalan, not Mexican, tamales" and they were wrapped in a green leaf and steamed. Thank you for all your help, everyone. Ann

Thanks for your response, flora. I think you may be right... I have never heard of dodder, but after googling it, it appears to be what is on this plant. I am assuming the white flowers are part of the dodder, not the herb in question? If this is what is on the plant, it is the only plant in my garden that is infested with the weed. I will try tomorrow to pull it off. That still leaves me with the question of what the host plant/herb is... but there are no other flowers on it that might help to identify what it is.. only the tiny white clusters that appear to be attached to those red filaments. I wish I could place the taste/scent, but I cant. Just that is seems more something that would be used in aromatherapy, not in foods. Thanks again!

Gomphrena globosa, an annual.

Or other tall autumn anemone. As can be seen in the first picture these spread underground, more enthusiastically than many would like.