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newbie needs id.....PLEASE

21 years ago

I love to "park & walk" to keep an eye on wildflowers in the undeveloped subdivisions in my area. (read:they destroyed the area years ago only to leave it unfinished, a waste, so I feel that my 'trespassing' is fair seeing as they only dump old tires there.) I only do flower id's right now, they seem easiest but last night I saw a plant I can't seem to id. I apologize, I can't post a picture. It had no flowers, I don't know if it flowers ever. It could have only came up within the last month or so. Height is about 2'. The bottom leaves are green and the top thirds of the plant grey/silver. It exhibits a STRONG mint odor when crushed. The silvery "whorl" of leaves on the tops caught my attention, as they are almost metalic in apperance. Please help. Even if it's only a guess, let me know & I'll research it. I lust for knowledge, HELP ME!!! I can't get it off my mind till I know and I'm driving my husb. insane!

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Comments (4)

melee_AL
21 years ago
sounds like mountain mint...or some other Pycnanthemum?

Here is a link that might be useful: Hoary Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum incanum)
soulfulbliss
Original Author
21 years ago
The plant seemed much fuller and less branching than that but has that same beautiful coloring. I guess I will have to bring some home to research further now that I have an idea. Many, many thanks. If you want any I can grab some for you since they will be mowing the entire area down soon. The "fancy" people living nearby, with their immaculate lawns, don't like to much natural beauty. So sad to see them spraying down the 'weeds' across the streets from their houses. Oh! I'm rambling (nobody here understands my passion for 'weeds') Anyways... thank you so much for the help. I'll let you know what I find out.
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vbain
21 years ago
Double check that the leaves are opposite and stem square in cross section - I'm sure they are, but it doesn't hurt to check. If so, go to the library and go to 582 - wildflowers - go to the index and look for mints and check each page for the right shape of leaves.
soulfulbliss
Original Author
21 years ago
Got a chance to sneak out of the house without the kids and grap a branch of my mystery plant. Thank you for your help, I learned, what you already figured, it is mountain mint. I'm bubbling over with excitement. I can't wait for it to go to seed. Well, actually, if they get ready to mow before it does, I'll move some to my weed-friendly garden.

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