Identify this plant.

kustard (Simon) · #1 23-10-2011, 10:37 AM

I'm trying to identify this plant. It looks very familiar to me and I'm pretty sure it's a bit of a weed. We have some growing in the common area of our complex, it appeared about 3 months ago. I'd like to get rid of it but I want to make sure of what it is before I do.

I've tried to google for it but all I get is Boneseed or Fireweed and it's not either of those two.

The plant itself is about 1 meter tall, quite woody and hardy. The leaves are long and thin with spike like edges. The flowers are yellow/orange with 8 petals. There is a distinct smell when you break off a bit of the plant.

Any ideas?

PCH (Paul) · #2 23-10-2011, 01:14 PM

Simon,

why not break a bit off and take it along to your local garden store to identify?

[1ponders] (Paul) · #3 23-10-2011, 01:27 PM

It looks like one of the Tagetes species. Not sure which one, possible one of the marigolds. If someone has planted normal hybridized marigolds from a nursery somewhere (possibly Tagetes erecta or T. patula )and the plants have been left to go to seed and then run wild they will revert eventually to their wild form. This looks very similar

mikerr (Michael) · #4 23-10-2011, 01:43 PM

Have look at this one.

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/217181/

Definitely an astronomy related plant.

Michael

kustard (Simon) · #5 23-10-2011, 02:52 PM

Thanks guys,

Paul (PCH): I'm being a tad lazy

Paul ([1ponders]): I asked my sister as well and she's said what you've said.
Mike: Yeah looks similar though the leaves look a bit different.

I think I'll trim it back. It's in the common area but I don't really want it running all over the place especially as it looks like it's starting to run away a bit.

Cheers,
Simon

el_draco (Rom) · #6 23-10-2011, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kustard

I've tried to google for it but all I get is Boneseed or Fireweed and it's not either of those two.

Are you sure its not a member of the fire weed group? This looks and your description sounds as if it is identical to a blloody thing I have been nuking on my property. Looks like a daisy, stinks like a dasy and round-up kills it dead in 2 weeks