Re: Unidentified NC native plant

[Chuck H <grendel at usit_net>]

Nick wrote:

> Thanks for the suggestion.  I haven't found any Polygonum that match the
> plant I found.  I did learn that some Ludwigia species have
> alternate leaves, although I didn't find any photos that were a perfect
> match.

Florida U has the most informative Web site for this sort of thing.  Here's 
the home page:
http://aquat1.ifas.ufl.edu

Here's a listing of various books you may be able to locate in a library:
http://aquat1.ifas.ufl.edu/manuals1.html

I also believe that both UNC and NC State have herbariums that may help, 
too, though I don't have links.  Duke may have an herbarium as well.



> I also think that the Proserpinaca I found may be Proserpinaca pectinata,
> not P. palustris.

They're fairly distinct from what I can tell.  I've found P. palustris not 
far from my house (amazing what you can find under your feet), but P. 
pectinata is apparently distributed a bit west of me, so I've not had the 
opportunity to hunt it down yet.  It seems more interesting 
look-wise.  Proserpinaca intermedia is also found in TN and may also be in 
NC.  Check this out -- the pics are pretty good and may help you:

http://tenn.bio.utk.edu/vascular/database/vascular-browse-genus-results.asp?GenusName=Proserpinaca

--
Chuck Huffine
Knoxville, Tennessee