Help me identify a strange plant
September 20, 2010 8:21 AM Subscribe
Need help identifying a mystery plant.
A family friend found a strange plant while walking in the woods in Western Maryland last week. Its slightly larger than an avocado and resembles the shape of a human heart. It was hard to the touch and I could not puncture the skin with my finger (although I didn't try too hard, since we didn't know if it might be poisonous or not). Here is a picture and another for size perspective
He said that it was attached the the ground by a small stalk/ stem, but there were no visible leaves around the base.
Does anyone have a clue as to what this might be?
A family friend found a strange plant while walking in the woods in Western Maryland last week. Its slightly larger than an avocado and resembles the shape of a human heart. It was hard to the touch and I could not puncture the skin with my finger (although I didn't try too hard, since we didn't know if it might be poisonous or not). Here is a picture and another for size perspective
He said that it was attached the the ground by a small stalk/ stem, but there were no visible leaves around the base.
Does anyone have a clue as to what this might be?
What kind of woods were they? It looks sort of like a green pinecone to me...
posted by elsietheeel at 9:03 AM on September 20, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by elsietheeel at 9:03 AM on September 20, 2010 [1 favorite]
Looks a bit like a durian. I have no idea if they grow in that climate.
posted by londonmark at 9:17 AM on September 20, 2010
posted by londonmark at 9:17 AM on September 20, 2010
Durian are a tropical fruit and typically much bigger than that. No idea what it actually is, though.
posted by asphericalcow at 9:20 AM on September 20, 2010
posted by asphericalcow at 9:20 AM on September 20, 2010
Maybe an escaped grape hyacinth? See in particular this picture. However, the "hard to the touch" bit makes me doubt this possibility.
posted by Johnny Assay at 9:34 AM on September 20, 2010
posted by Johnny Assay at 9:34 AM on September 20, 2010
Escaped and gigantic - grape hyacinths are tiny things.
Perhaps if you can't get a definitive answer here, contact your local Master Gardener Extension to see if they have any insight?
And then let us know!
posted by elsietheeel at 10:31 AM on September 20, 2010
Perhaps if you can't get a definitive answer here, contact your local Master Gardener Extension to see if they have any insight?
And then let us know!
posted by elsietheeel at 10:31 AM on September 20, 2010
Last comment until I figure out what it is myself.
The Smithsonian's Botany Department.
posted by elsietheeel at 10:46 AM on September 20, 2010
The Smithsonian's Botany Department.
posted by elsietheeel at 10:46 AM on September 20, 2010
To me it looks like a spadix after fruiting but I'm not sure about that. The spadix is a particular feature of the Araceae family.
posted by at the crossroads at 11:14 AM on September 20, 2010
posted by at the crossroads at 11:14 AM on September 20, 2010
Response by poster: Thank you for the suggested links.
I've sent an email to one of the contacts listed at The Smithsonian's Botany Department. I'll report back when/ if I receive a reply.
posted by JennyJupiter at 11:43 AM on September 20, 2010
I've sent an email to one of the contacts listed at The Smithsonian's Botany Department. I'll report back when/ if I receive a reply.
posted by JennyJupiter at 11:43 AM on September 20, 2010
Ah, also - there's a 'what plant is this' flickr group. I've never used it, but have seen it suggested here from time to time.
posted by jquinby at 11:48 AM on September 20, 2010
posted by jquinby at 11:48 AM on September 20, 2010
Response by poster: Mystery Solved! Eastern Skunk Cabbage
I received a response from The Smithsonian: :"I believe it’s the fruiting head of the eastern skunk cabbage, Symplocarpus foetidus (family Araceae). It blooms in the winter and produces rosettes of very large leaves in the spring, but they are apparently gone by early fall when the fruit is ripening."
A google image search found several pictures that looked like our mystery plant.
posted by JennyJupiter at 1:02 PM on September 20, 2010 [2 favorites]
I received a response from The Smithsonian: :"I believe it’s the fruiting head of the eastern skunk cabbage, Symplocarpus foetidus (family Araceae). It blooms in the winter and produces rosettes of very large leaves in the spring, but they are apparently gone by early fall when the fruit is ripening."
A google image search found several pictures that looked like our mystery plant.
posted by JennyJupiter at 1:02 PM on September 20, 2010 [2 favorites]
Awesome. Thank you for sharing!
posted by elsietheeel at 1:26 PM on September 20, 2010
posted by elsietheeel at 1:26 PM on September 20, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by jquinby at 8:30 AM on September 20, 2010