Plant Identification

[Egon]

I need help identifying this plant. It grows about 2-1/2 feet tall. Has seed pods like a caragana but with white fluff that floats the seeds. It grows from seeds and spreads from rhizomes that are about six eight inches deep. It will have a tendency to shade other plants and take over. It flourishes in either sun or shade and on poor acid [ 6PH ] soil.

Eradication by tilling does not seem to work well. Roundup and Killex type products will kill it but There are too many other plants/trees to be able to spray properly.

The library has been visited, goggle has been goggled and many people around have been questioned. I still don't know what it is.

Can anyone help? Thanks

 

[randy41]

might be dogbane.

 

[Egon]

The leaves, flowers, seed pods and seed all are identical to Dogbane.

The only difference from the Dogbane pictures I have seen is that my plant has branches coming out from the main stem.

But there too many other similarities so Dogbane it is.

Thanks Randy.

 

[jdbower]

Will dogbane help ward off the evil werepoodle like wolfbane does for werewolves?

 

[Egon]

Maybe it does help those times I take Dawg out to the lake.

 

[RobertBrown]

I have used a website from the University of Virginia or Virginia Tech ( some college with Viriginia in the title) I'm not sure which, to I.D. plants before. The guys a Doctor and he's pretty smart. He will identify plants from a photo or series of photos if you show him the right parts. He needs to see how the leaves cluster and how they connect to the stem.
If you Googled this thoroughly you may have run across him.
Identifying plants and trees can be difficult but the genius/ species name can be crucial in the effort to eradicate.
Here I found it! It took about 90 seconds, only because I look for it before. His name is Dr Chris Gough, hes a professor. If he can't help you may want to stop looking.
Let me know if this helps
Good luck

Dendrology at Virginia Tech

 

[Egon]

Thanks Robert.

I think I'll stay with Dogbane and not bother the professor on this matter.

 

[RobertBrown]

Looks like Apocynum cannabinum to me.
It's not exactly useless:
"Indian hemp was used as a source of fiber by Native Americans, to make hunting nets, fishing lines, clothing, and twine. It was also used in herbal medicine to treat syphilis, rheumatism, intestinal worms, fever, asthma, and dysentery. Although the toxins from the plant can cause nausea and catharsis, it has also been used for slowing the pulse".

If you can get some of these moths to lay some eggs on it...

Cycnia tenera - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The catapillars eat it.

 

[Egon]

Nice link. Thanks.



Unfortunately the moths have not arrived.

 

[JohnDeere4300]

Egon,

I have seen something close to that plant here, but it doesn't have the small flowers on top.

If you can't find the real name, then you might have to bother the professor to get the real name.

 

[Egon]

Somehow I think Dogbane will be the right name. Too many similarities.

Of course that is not what I normally call it!

 

[RobertBrown]

Nice link. Thanks.



Unfortunately the moths have not arrived.

Checkout this link, if you liked that one this one should interest you as well. Jamming bat echolocation: the dogbane tiger moth Cycnia tenera times its clicks to the terminal attack calls of the big brown bat Eptesicus fuscus -- Fullard et al. 194 (1): 285 -- Journal of Experimental Biology

I live about 2000 miles south of you and we have catapilars spinning now. I would think you should start to see these things in the next few weeks. It happens to be be a very interesting critter should you happen upon it. You may develop a new apreciation for your "weed".
What does this have to do with tractors anyway?

 

[Egon]

What does this have to do with tractors anyway?

I have been cultivating land in order to get rid of the Dogbane. Unfortunately the rhizomes are very tenuous and there appears to be lots of seed just waiting to germinate. So far it's Play farmer zero, Dogbane plus one.

Interesting read on the moth.

 

[Egon]

Moths jam sonar to dodge bats

Just reading the "News" and came across this article.

 

[RobertBrown]

Moths jam sonar to dodge bats

Just reading the "News" and came across this article.

It's remarkable that the moth has that capability, but just as remarkable that we have the technology to measure and quantify it's capability, remove it and measure again.