ID help, weed or wildflower?

12 years ago

Hello. I assume I have a couple of weeds that volunteered themselves into my garden but I would like to double check that they aren't some kind of wildflower that I'm not familiar with.

I'll post photos of a close up of a bloom, the whole plant (which kind of gets lost with the background) and the base of the larger plant whose inflorescences were just cut of by me and my happy pruning shears. That was kind of fun.

The blooms are a light periwinkle colour and are clustered at the top of the inflorescence but there are also axilary flowers.

I assume it should go, seeing as how it popped up where I have other plants and other plans but the blooms are kind of pretty.

Curious if anyone knows what this is and if I should A: rip it out or B: just move it to a different spot.

Thanks!

Jennifer

Close up of bloom:

From 2011-06-25

Whole plant:

From 2011-06-25

Base, sans inflorescences:

From 2011-06-25

Comments (5)

TulsaRose
12 years ago
Looks like something in the Borage family. Maybe Hackelia floribunda "Many-flowered Stickseed"

The link below is to a wonderful wildflower website.

Rosie

Here is a link that might be useful: Wildflowers West
jclepine
Original Author
12 years ago
That is a brilliant guess! I'm not sure it is the exact one, because the axillary flowers on mine have just started to show and don't have the same hanging habit as the ones in the USDA profile. But, I'm thinking you are spot-on for it being in the Boraginaceae family. I'm going to keep an eye on it and do some more research.

This sight you linked too, thank you by the way, says it is poisonous and that the prickles from the fruit cause skin irritation so I'm not sure I want it near my "eat anything and everything" dogs.

I'm also going to look into Hackelia micrantha, since they look so similar.

Thanks!

Jennifer
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Skybird - z5, Denver, Colorado
12 years ago
Wow, Jennifer, I never heard of this before, but I think TulsaRose is right on with the Hackelia florbunda! Check out the links below--don't have time to live-link the "extra" one! They really do look identical to your pics! If your plant has the hairy stems, I think this is it!

Skybird

http://www.swcoloradowildflowers.com/Blue%20Purple%20Enlarged%20Photo%20Pages/hackelia%20floribunda.htm

Here is a link that might be useful: CSU Plant Database
TulsaRose
12 years ago
Jennifer, happy to have helped out somewhat. Sometimes I get so confused with all the requirements of ID'ing a particular plant. I wasn't real sure about the foliage in your pix. I just gave it my best guess. :-)

I found one other "look-alike" that really caught my eye, Hackelia micrantha. I think it was the common name, Jessica sticktight, that gave me a giggle.

Rosie

Here is a link that might be useful:
jclepine
Original Author
12 years ago
Okay, upon further reflection and after reviewing my plants of the rocky mountains book, I agree. You all are right, it is a Hackelia floribunda.

Rosie, I was thinking that it could also have been a Hackelia micrantha too but have ruled that one out now.

The axillary flowers on mine are tiny without a pedicel so I was thinking it might not be the Hf, but, they are new and will probably develop pedicels as they grow.

Plus, mine are so much greener and healthier looking than the photos of the ones in the wild. Well, duh, mine are smack in the middle of my flower bed, my ammended, watered, cared for flower bed.

I also found no other mention of any part of the plant being poisonous so I may relocated them after all. Not sure they'll take, they are listed as either biennial or perennial so I'm hoping they are perennial.

Well, that was fun, thank you all for the help with identifying and for the links!

Jennifer