Can You Identify this Plant?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Saddic on May 9, 2015 at 21:09

Is it a Nicotiana (Solanaceae)?

Permalink Reply by Alison P on May 9, 2015 at 21:27

Wow! No idea, what an unusual plant. I don't think it is Nicotania though, not the ones I've seen anyway.

Permalink Reply by Hugh on May 9, 2015 at 21:36

If it helps, it's a woody shrub, in  this case about 5 feet tall. I'd meant to ask what it was at the nursery, but got so caught up in everything else that I clean forgot.

Permalink Reply by Dick Harris on May 10, 2015 at 8:18

Not a clue.

Permalink Reply by David Solomon on May 10, 2015 at 9:13

As far as I know, Nicotiana species are all herbaceous (ie not woody) 

Because the leaves are so immature it's hard to tell, but this could be one of maples with trifoliate leaves (ie compound, with 3 leaflets, not the usual maple-leaf shape). Acer griseum (Paper-bark maple) would be my best guess. The description in MItchell (Field Guide to the Trees of Britain and Northern Europe, Collins) fits the leaves, petioles, twigs and flowers pretty well. Were you able to see the bark on he trunk? If it's sufficiently mature, this should be a giveaway. MItchell says: "Now much planted in gardens of all sizes.....Bark: Dark red, rich chestnut or coppery-brown, peeling and rolling away sideways to leave smooth areas...."

Permalink Reply by Hugh on May 10, 2015 at 9:23

That looks pretty close, David. I've just googled the griseum and the leaf shape matches. From the pictures I can find of the species fruiting though, there isn't such a good match.

The trunk was pretty immature, but I did notice what I thought was some slight peeling to the bark. I didn't pick up on any particularly strong colouring though (which isn't to say it wasn't there though).

Permalink Reply by Hugh on May 10, 2015 at 9:32

....although on a second seach, a picture a little way down this page does look like it may match. So I think you might have cracked it. I seem to be very drawn to acers even when I don't know that they're acers.