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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.

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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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Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

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Monday - January 02, 2012

From: Victorville, CA
Region: California
Topic: Non-Natives, Plant Identification
Title: Identification of stem from a bouquet
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

I have a stem with leaves that came in a bouquet May 2011. They are still healthy in a vase of water tho they have no roots, just stem. On the back center of each leaf are protrusions half an inch long that do not look like roots. They are sticking right out of the back of the leaves. Can you help identify this plant? Thanks.

ANSWER:

Plants included in bouquets are very rarely native plants.   Our focus and expertise at the Lady Bird Johnson Center are with plants native to North America so we aren't who you should be asking about non-natives.   Additionally, descriptions alone usually don't give enough informationto identify a plant.  However, if you will go to our Plant Identification page you will find links to several plant identification forums that accept photos for identification.   Perhaps, if you send them photos, one of them will be able to identify your plant.

 

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