Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Mystery solved! Plant ID revealed

It's Vicia acutifolia, a native vetch. I learned this from Suzanne Koptur, a biology professor at Florida International University. According to Dr. Koptur, it can be found in "many Florida counties."

The vetch continues to grow but it's being attacked by blackflies, which I'll need to deal with. It's got lots of tiny pods (click on the photo), so I'm sure it will seed itself again.

If anyone wants seeds, let me know.

9 comments:

James David said...

Great to note that you have found out its name.
It would truly help to note the character of the plant.

Terra Mirabilis said...

Too late to add to the blog, but in a case of serendipity, I was just looking at a website for native plants and came across the very plant at http://tinyurl.com/ybpp9yv. It's a larval host for the barred yellow butterfly. Better the butterfly than the blackfly!

Terra Mirabilis said...

Hi, James. Our posts crossed! Check the URL above.

Ami said...

I think I have this one in my yard as well. Have been treating it as weed since I did not see any flowers until recently. Hmm, I may also dig them up and potted. Thanks!

Terra Mirabilis said...

Ami, let me know how it goes. Suzanne Koptur thought they may be more common in wetlands, so I guess it will need a lot of water. Do check the link in my first comment, tho.

Deborah Verhoeven said...

I love it when that happens.

Susan said...

Glad you mystery is solved. It's always nice to know the name of a plant.

NanaK said...

I'm glad you found out not only the name for this but also the information that the barred yellow butterfly uses it as a larval host. Makes it not only pretty but also useful. I like the way you have displayed it with the orb.

Terra Mirabilis said...

Thanks, Deb, Susan and Nana.