Native Plants
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
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Wednesday - September 29, 2010
From: Bee Cave, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Plant identification
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
What is the name of the beautiful pink flowers with tiny Orchid-like blossoms occurring now all alongside the highways in the Bee Cave, TX and hill country area? Is it "slenderleaf false foxglove", "flaxleaf false foxglove" or "ridgestem false foxglove"??? I would greatly appreciate your advice!ANSWER:
Mr. Smarty Plants believes what you are seeing is one of the species of Agalinis—either Agalinis edwardsiana (Plateau false foxglove) or Agalinis heterophylla (Prairie false foxglove). Agalinis tenuifolia (Slenderleaf false foxglove), Agalinis linifolia (Flaxleaf false foxglove) and Agalinis oligophylla (Ridgestem false foxglove) don't occur in the Central Texas region. It is rather difficult to tell the species of Agalinis apart. You can read about the features of each of the plants on pp. 992 and 993 in the online version of Shinners & Mahler's Flora of North Central Texas.
Here are photos from our Image Gallery:
More Plant Identification Questions
Identification of plant in Illinois
August 13, 2007 - I've found a plant that I cannot identify. The plant is is very short, 2 inches tall maybe, and has very fragile, thin leaves and stem. The leaves about 1" long, are pinnate, with about 20 leaflets ...
view the full question and answer
Plant identification
March 28, 2010 - Found thorny bush in woods near my home that I need to identify. It is a tall shrub (approx. 10 feet) that has very large thorns on its green branches. I don't see any flowers yet. It doesn't appear...
view the full question and answer
Botanical name for a kidney-shaped leaf
June 25, 2009 - Dear Mr Smarty Plants, I love the site.. but I was searching for id on this odd plant I have..
I have lived here a few years now, and have seen them before, never seemingly to have a flower..but ...
view the full question and answer
Keys for identification of native plants in Ohio
April 22, 2005 - Do you know of any good web sites that provide keys for the identification of native plants? I'm conducting a wetland plant inventory in southwestern Ohio.
view the full question and answer
Identity of a plant at UGA Trial Gardens 15 years ago
August 14, 2012 - Looking to identify a plant that was in UGA trial gardens about 15 years ago, large plant with purple flowers, fuzzy leaves like a lambs ear. Thought it started with a Thiobana or something like that
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |