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| I'm pretty sure I know what this is, but would like confirmation to make sure I didn't overlook some identifying feature. I'm not saying what I think so that I don't lead anyone in an incorrect direction. I didn't plant it, but it is growing in my garden. Seeds could have come from anyplace...soil brought in, birds, nursery plants, soil with something I dug elsewhere, etc., so although I believe it to be a native, I couldn't swear to it.
It's about 4.5 ft. tall. Unfortunately, I've been busy and didn't get a pic of the flowers while they were still blooming, but I don't think that's necessary for ID. This photo is the base of the umbel...no bract at the base. |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| Note color of stems and the sheaths. |
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| I haven't determined if the leaves are in groups of 3, or if it is actually 1 leaf with 3 leaflets. Anyway, this is one leaf (or leaflet), and the full-sized papertowel gives scale. |
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| Obviously, flowerhead gone to seed. |
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- Posted by fatamorgana Zone 5/6 (My Page) on Mon, Aug 6, 12 at 9:47
| Given what I see, Angelica atropurpurea. Though I say that cautiously since Cicuta maculata (Water Hemlock) and this angelica can be confused with one another. I've grown angelica (A. archangelica) for a long time and this looks like angelica to me. Though would I ever use such a wild volunteer plant even though I was certain it was angelica? No. The cost of a mistake is not worth it. Petersons Edible Wild Plants (Eastern/Central N. America) notes the sheath at the stem and leaf as well as the small lobe/big tooth on the lowest, largest leaflet as id keys for A. atropurpurea. It also notes white roots with fat tuberlike branches as a C. maculata id key. The attached link also gives another id key with the leaves. FataMorgana |
Here is a link that might be useful: Angelica info
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| Thanks for your post, FataMorgana. I too think it's angelica, although I think it's A. genuflexa. I don't plan to eat it, or even touch it more than need be! But if it's C. douglasii (which I highly doubt), I will destroy it. If angelica, I will destroy that plant (although I can just imagine how large the root must be now) and reseed in a better place. It chose to grow right on the edge of a path, where it's difficult not to brush against it and it overwhelms my peony and rose bush that are behind it. Last summer was a great year for red elderberry germination...as I was ripping those little plants out of my garden, I was just about to yank this plant when I realized it was different. Thinking at the time that it was yet another, smaller, plant, I left it and just now made myself take time to fully check it out. |
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- Posted by fatamorgana Zone 5/6 (My Page) on Mon, Aug 6, 12 at 18:57
| I must admit to not knowing either A. genuflexa and C. douglasii - I'm on the other side of the continent from their native ranges. I would expect some of the characteristics and ID keys to be similar to the species I noted but check a wild edibles field guide for western N. America. I'm sure they would cover those plants especially the hemlock. Poison plants are always covered in those type of guides. Angelica archangelica is a biennial. It dies after flowering. You may wish to see if A. genuflexa is a biennial or perennial. If biennial or short-lived perennial, you may not need to ripe out or kill anything with a seed head. With A. archangelica, the seeds are best sowed fresh or cold stored until sowing. I've wintersowed that angelica with great success. Angelica are spectacular and commanding garden sights. FataMorgana |
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