. . . bragging rights. Extra points for telling us the scientific name.
I think it’s some kind of geranium and it’s been sprouting up in the backyard for years every winter. If allowed to grow it puts off small, uninteresting flowers.
I’m hoping it has rare pharmaceutical value. Then I could offer better prizes on Root Simple, like an all expenses paid trip to East Hollywood.
Carolina geranium?
Is it this
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/WEEDS/cutleaf_geranium.html
Close but no cigar.
If it is worth something, I have loads of it here in South Africa too… LOL
Sorry, don’t know it’s name.
Good to know it made it around the world.
It looks like Geranium Pyrenaicum.
Good guess but the leaves and flowers don’t match. I may be wrong about it being in the Geranium family–might actually be in the mallow family according to some comments in Facebook.
Is it a Male or Female Weed ?,,If it is Male name it Woody,,If it is Female name it Melissa..I would love to win a trip to California…LOL..Just a little levity,,Sorry I could not help myself,,Old Guy
Here are some Geranium species in CA. There are several candidates.
http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/specieslist.cgi?orderby=taxon&where-genus=Geranium
Malva neglecta? I have it all over my yard and when the weather gets really cold at night it take on a reddish tint. I bet Christopher Nyerges could tell you if it is good for something. (seems like it is) Any I would love to win a trip to EAST Hollywood! LOL
Now I’m back to thinking it’s a kind of geranium. And Christopher Nyerges and Pascal Baudar are both working on it via Facebook. So far we’re all still stumped.
it’s Common Mallow…
grows wild, likes disturbed soil, my horses love it!
and it’s a great nutritional source for cattle as well
It does indeed look like common mallow, Malva neglecta at first glance, but it’s more delicate. It also has reddish stems and spots on the leafs.
btw, people can eat common mallow too. I’ve made it into tacos–so don’t let those greedy horses eat it all! 😉
it’s Common Mallow
grows wild, in disturbed soil, my horses love it,
& it’s great nutrition for cattle
I’d probably guess Geranium rotundifolium L.:
http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-calrecnum=3808
Haven’t a clue, but did pull a few of those when I went out to the mail box today….will be curious to see if they have any redeeming value!
Looks like Ground Ivy or Glechoma Hederacea…?
If this is our plant, than it has many uses..
Rich in Vitamin C, brewed as a tea.
In place of animal rennet in cheese making.
Or, as a flavoring preservative in brewing beer!
I agree with Belle. Looks like creeping charlie, aka ground ivy, to me. Creeping charlie has square stems, as it is a member of the mint family. I did plant some, but tore it all out before it got established. Photos here:
http://www.muddyhillfarm.com/blog/2012/11/17/creeping-charlie-free-groundcover-or-invasive-weed/
is it henbit / Lamium amplexicaule
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74127.html
cheeseweed, from the mallow family I think.
I don’t know what it is either, but I’ve got it EVERYWHERE in my yard. I’m in Sonoma County, CA.
I still think it is common mallow…
Basia
Maybe Bicknell’s geranium? Gernanium bicknellii. It’s supposed to occur in the northern half of the US, but maybe it extends to LA on the western side. It looks a lot like what we have growing here, in Mendo County.
Celadine (chelidonium majus) ? If so, great medicinal value (liver detoxifier and others)
Cutleaf geranium, Geranium dissectum, seedling.
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/G/W-GN-GDIS-SG.001.html
Malva sylvestris?
http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Malva+sylvestris
OR
Does it have a little bulb and grow small pinkish white flowers in early spring, growing up to 20-30 cm. height in bundles? We’ve seen that in one of the gardens we did a few years ago.
+1 carolina geranium. I have it too here in N Carolina. Kind of a pathetic little weed.
My guess is Geranium molle http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?enlarge=0000+0000+1207+1225
I think we have a winner. It’s readily pollinated by hymenoptera which might explain why there are so many varieties and why it’s been so difficult to identify. See the long list on the wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geranium_molle. Native to the Mediterranean and introduced to North America.
It’s called henbit. It’s a perennial weed. The Scientific name is lamium amplexicaule. I live in Arkansas and it is everywhere and very hard to get rid of.
Pennyroyal?