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Mystery Plant in Michigan Flood-plain Woods

18 years ago

Can anyone provide guesses about the following plant's identity (sorry, don't have picture capability), found in flower today in Southeast Michigan in the Rouge River flood-plain? 8 " to 12" high, long, fleshy roots, possibly planted, rather than native to woods.

Leaves: 2 or 3, all basal, growing from a common sheath; simple, on long, grooved petiole, somewhat like common burdock; arrowhead shape, the oldest - broader than long, the younger - longer than broad, younge darker green with edges of leaf curved downwards.

Flowers: on one long stalk, rising from base, higher than leaves, several minute leaves on stalk totally unlike main leaves, alternate; 20 to 25 flower clusters at top of stalk, arranged in spirals; each cluster with 20 to 30 flowers on short stalks rising from common base, flowers about 2mm. wide, pale pink, 5 petals, joined as in Pink family, one pistil extending about 3mm. beyond petals, with spear-like end.

Any ideas welcome, regards, Peter.

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Comments (5)

brenda_near_eno
18 years ago
lady's tresses?
peter_6
Original Author
18 years ago
Brenda: thank you for your guess. However, Ladies' tresses doesn't fit. Boggy soil and spiral of flowers are good indicators; but the spirals on mine are much tighter, they are spirals of flower clusters - not flowers, and the flower stalk is much thicker and fleshier than with Ladies' tresses. Regards, Peter.
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dbarron
18 years ago
I don't know the plant's name, but I think you hit it with the pink family (and I have seen this plant..but never typed it out). Clarification: the flower stalk has the flower clusters at the "very" top and the spirals are tight.
peter_6
Original Author
18 years ago
A friend suggested Petasites japonicus (sorry, I don't know how to do italics). Looking at Hortiplex I'm satisfied with the genus but not the species. I must give it a sharp dose of Britton and Brown. Regards, Peter.
janet_e
18 years ago
Since you're researching Petasites, you've probably already found Petasites sagittatus, which seems like a good match to your description. It's native in Michigan.

Here is a link that might be useful: Petasites sagittatus

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