Native Plants
![](../_images/smarty_plants.gif)
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
![](../_images/mr_smarty_plants_logo_web_200w.jpg)
rate this answer
![](../_images/star_43.gif)
Friday - July 25, 2008
From: ST. Joseph, MO
Region: Midwest
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: What is gelatinous plant in a Missouri lake
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Q what is gel like plant floating in lake looks like a bag filled with green living plant and is see thru and has red. when touched feels like piece of fat but seems to be living in water. MissouriANSWER:
Well, we have several possibilities here—it could be a plant (algae) or it could be insects eggs, fish eggs, amphibian (frog, toad, salamander) eggs, bryozoans, freshwater jellyfish, or freshwater sponges. Here is a site from the University of Maine with photos and information about all of these. Here are, also, an Algae Photo Library, a Fish Eggs Stock Photos and Images site, an Amphibian Egg Identification Page, Bryozoans site, Freshwater Jellyfish page, and Freshwater Sponges. Mr. Smarty Plants hopes you will be able to find your "critter" in one of these.
More Plant Identification Questions
Plant identification
June 10, 2008 - Mr. Smarty Plants, My neighbor gave me a plant that is about 3 foot tall, has a main stalk, and leaves that produce small “baby” plants at the edge of the leaves. These plants grow roots and once dev...
view the full question and answer
Plant identification
November 01, 2007 - I am trying to identify a wild flowering plant. It grows in pastures near Rhome Texas. How can I email a digital photo to you to look at it??
view the full question and answer
Plant identification
July 15, 2010 - I bought a double knock-out rose bush and planted it in my yard. A year later a weed-like plant started growing beside it. It has very thorny leaves, stems and stalk. Little purple flowers are grow...
view the full question and answer
Plant identification
July 24, 2010 - I was wondering if you could help me identify a plant in the carrot family that has invaded a portion of my property that I fear may be toxic. It looks most like the water hemlock plant (leaf-wise, ...
view the full question and answer
Plant identification, orange honeysuckle
December 14, 2009 - I have two potted trees in my yard. They have honeysuckle-shaped, orange flowers that bloom year long and the leaves also resemble those of honeysuckle. There were no identification tags on them whe...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |