Calling all Botanists! Mystery Plant must be named!

[Lorien077]

]Well I just failed my knowledge (nature) check. I need its scientific name, and can't even figure out the family. Nat. ones get the best of all of us?

Here's the monster:
http://lorien077.deviantart.com/art/AUGH-WHAT-IS-THIS-165541099
This little critter is from the pacific northwest, and has been well watered. Found it in a roadside ditch near the woods but in a field-ish area. The place I yanked it from was rather damp, but no standing water involved.

Any ideas? I've tried keying it out and that isn't going anywhere.

[Leecros]

why are you picking random plants that you don't know what they are...they could be death...DEATH I SAY!
you could have DIED and then you'd NEVER find out what type of plant it is.


I dunno what kind of plant it is, but i'd have to say if i was evil i'd grow them all around my house...

[Lorien077]

XD Its for homework, and I know which ones not to pick.

Well at least I'm not the only one stumped.

[purple gelatinous cube o' Doom]

I take it that picture is the whole plant then by your description?

[Xyk]

Looks like a strand of seaweed or a twig to me. But I'm not a reliable reference.

[arguskos]

Looks like a strand of seaweed or a twig to me. But I'm not a reliable reference.
I can all but guarantee it's not seaweed. Seaweed is large and flat, like a giant blade of grass, or at least, the stuff up on the West Coast of the United States is. That looks more like a weed I have growing in my yard. Wish I had a better name for ya, but, uh, we call it "weed". :smallwink:

[Lorien077]

I actually found it! Its not a seaweed (being miles and miles away from the sea, and that being the whole plant growing in dirt) but here it is!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumex_acetosella

[thubby]

that stuff spreads like the plague in my parts.
harmless enough, even looks nice in the spring, but it's everywhere. kill it with fire!!!

[Serpentine]

Huh. Sounds a bit like Paterson's Curse (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echium_plantagineum) (aka Salvation Jane) with regards to habits and potential toxicity to livestock...

[Lorien077]

We don't have a lot of it here, its the first time I've ever seen it.

[IonDragon]

I'd name it "Phyllis" I don't know why, it just looks like a "Phyllis" to me. Maybe a "Theodore".

[Lorien077]

This plant has separate female and male versions of itself, so I'll pick Phillis. :)

[Water-Smurf]

I think I've seen that before. It's a vague memory, but I think I remember pulling off the little seed thingies when I was bored as a kid.