Native Plants
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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.
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Thursday - September 23, 2004
From: Dumfries, VA
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Smarty Plants on wildflower identification
Answered by: Stephen Brueggerhoff
QUESTION:
Can you recommend a good CD-ROM on wildflower identification? I live in Virginia and am constantly frustrated trying to identify the myriad wildflowers I encounter as I move around the state.ANSWER:
I am not familiar with existing CD-ROM "field guides" for native plant identification currently available on the market. Research in internet, or web-based, interfaces, combined with technological advances in hand-held units (PDA's), appear to be the latest development in e-tronic field guides. The closest I could come to CD-ROM technology is a resources entitled Woody Plants of North America. We provide a robust info on plants native to North America through our Native Plant Database, where you can research info on plants by name, vegetative or habit characteristics, even by region or state. Also, I recommend getting in contact with your state native plant society, where the kind folks at VNPS might be able to provide you with additional resources that will accomodate your need.More Plant Identification Questions
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Looking for the identification of spice or cinnamon bush
May 30, 2011 - My grandmother had a flowering bush that had little yellow flowers on it and smelled like cinnamon to me. She called it a spice bush. Could you help me name that bush?
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Plant Identification
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March 17, 2010 - Live in Fort Worth, TX. Any idea what are trees blooming this week (3/18), with white blossoms and an oval green leaf about the size of a half dollar? The bark looks like an oak.
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Rash resulting from cutting trees in NC.
May 08, 2012 - My boyfriend was cutting some trees yesterday. He had thorns in his hands after he was done, and today he has a rash on his legs, a fever and he feels like throwing up. Can you tell me if its symptoms...
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