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Southwestern Gardening

Volunteer Plant - Please Help Identify...

18 years ago

I have this volunteer that popped up in a dirt spot in my backyard. I kind of thought it resembled a caesalpinia, but after looking at some others, I'm not sure. Seems to love the heat, especially the humid time we're having now, and it goes through a growth spurt when it rains or gets watered. It is growing very fast, which makes me think it's some kind of weed.

Is it a weed? Is it worth nurturing and transplanting? If anybody knows precisely what it is, PLEASE let me know.

Pics here:

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Comments (9)

milkmood
Original Author
18 years ago
Does anybody use these forums?

Well for some reason, my images aren't coming through now, so here are the links. Another notable trait, the leaves fold up at night.

Image 1 Image 2 Image 3 Image 4
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Betz11
18 years ago
Just surfing and ran across this. I could not retreive the images either way. Sorry.

I know what you mean when you asked if anyone uses these forums. Maybe everyone is busy gardening.
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I emailed the master gardeners in the area and this is what they say: Based on your photos, I believe that your volunteer is a bladderpod, a member of the pea family. It's closely related to the rattlebush plant. I found it listed as a Glottidium vesicarium on these webpages: http://www.bio.utexas.edu/courses/bio406d/images/pics/fab/glottidium_vesicarium.htm http://www.csdl.tamu.edu/FLORA/cgi/gallery_query?q=Glottidium%20vesicarium. I did not find any references for this plant on the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center's website. It is a native, annual of the South, from East Texas to Florida and north to Oklahoma, Arkansas and on east to the Carolinas. Some webpages list it as an invasive, toxic plant. Apparently livestock may become very ill after eating the dried pods. However, it is noted as having attractive flowers. Also, the bloom colors can vary some from plant to plant, and the plant can grow to 6 feet tall. It likes wet, disturbed sites. (As in all of Texas this year.) Since it is an annual, if you pull up the plant with all it's seed pods before they dry, then you probably won't have any volunteers of this plant next spring. If the seed pods mature and spill the seeds, you'll probably have many more plants next year. Or, if you want a few plants, I suggest that you collect some of the dried pods before they split, pull up the dead/dying plant, and replant the seeds early next spring. If you like the plant, then by all means, grow a few in your garden; however, because it does tend to be invasive, you'll probably want to control the spread of its seeds. Otherwise you may end up with it dominating your garden! This is me again: Jardineratx - take note. As lovely as it is, I am thinking I will pull mine up. I may save a few seeds, but we will see. I like to let things ramble, but I have enough trouble with the cedar elm seedlings. Thanks again everyone for all your help and comments!
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Thank you, eaga - that sure looks like my plant. I never would have found that. Too bad about the name change -I like the old name better, but understand it was mis-classed as such.
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User
18 years ago
It's a weed ... pull it up before it develops seeds.
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milkmood
Original Author
18 years ago
lazygardens,
That's helpful. Now, does anybody know what (kind of weed) it is? Like, a name would be good, scientific or otherwise.

Betz11,
If you don't mind, try the link below...

Thanks.

Here is a link that might be useful: Volunteer
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ankraras
18 years ago
Do a search for "Spotted spurge" or Euphorbia maculata and you will find a perfect match.

Ankrara's Hobby Corner
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milkmood
Original Author
18 years ago
Ankraras,
Thanks...that's really close in appearance, but it's not low growing, and the stems are smooth, not hairy like that. It seems to be a bush and not a sprawling ground cover like the spurge, with leaves much bigger than the spotted spurge.

Its stems seem to be a little woodier instead of succulent.

Let's see what other options we can dig up. (no pun)

Comparing my "Image 2" from my second post from the top to the image on the page below reveals that it's much different.

I'm fairly convinced that this is NOT a weed.

Here is a link that might be useful: Euphorbia Maculata (Spotted Spurge)
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User
18 years ago
Milkmood,

Sorry the above picture is indeed a weed, pretty as it is. I too like it but in about a month it will start to form a rosette type plant with a central taproot. It does have many seeds and they will germinate seemingly for years. It seems to crowd out other weeds and grasses. If it is tightly packed I have had the plant reach 8-10 inches but on the ground by itself I have seen 2-3 foot plants.

Just remember a weed is a plant that is not where it is supposed to be. Only you and the local authorities can decide.
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milkmood
Original Author
18 years ago
maifleur,

I really like your philosophy about a weed vs. a plant being in the eye of the beholder, (depending on where it grows). I'm going to leave it for a while (maybe a couple more weeks)...if it starts to get ugly and out of control, it goes...simple as that.
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ankraras
18 years ago
Try the ~Name that plant~ forum link attached below.

Here is a link that might be useful: Name That Plant!
0

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