A plant here in the Southeastern coastal area—can yall help me identify it?

[raccoon]

It’s a wild plant, and you see it in ditches a lot. When I went to the beach (in SC) in mid-August, it was in bloom in all the ditches in the coastal area.

It’s probably about 3-4 feet high and has a thick rust-red colored head on it.

Wish I had a picture, but alas, I don’t.

[CC]

1. Would it be

Ditch Lilies?


From Google images

[raccoon]

2. That's not the one I'm thinking of, but we have lots of those around.

The one I'm thinking of doesn't have flowers. It has a head like wheat, only it's a rust-red color.

[Inchworm]

3. Hey wait! I labored to plant these yesterday?!?

I got someone's "thinnings" and planted them along my drive. I was worried they wouldn't take but was assured they would grow unless I reeeeally screwed up.

I was under the guise that they were day lillies!! :crazy:

Woot! If they can grow rampant in mountain ditches, I stand a chance of success!

:woohoo:

:hi:

[FloriTexan]

4. is it this....sorry for the pasted link...

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=&imgrefurl=http://www.vanbloem.com/index.cfm%3Ffuseaction%3DPLANTS.plantDetail%26plant_id%3D365&usg=__fvy_QAToVNytqAIvU4g_xkuMirs=&h=370&w=300&sz=47&hl=en&start=3&sig2=7aKlH_7m8iV3h5rZ7Snziw&um=1&tbnid=hoAPkdCmw5ObJM:&tbnh=122&tbnw=99&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsouth%2Bcarolina%2Bweeds%26hl%3Den%26um%3D1&ei=XLOqSteXDYONnQeY3rC4BA

[raccoon]

8. Thanks, but it's darker than that. More like russet color. nt-

[truedelphi]

12. Joe Pye weed

Wow I had a whole yard of this stuff in California (A yard that got watered often, though)


Joe-pye weed Eupatorium purpureum

Benefits | Preparation | Medicinal Uses | Side Effects | Plant | Folklore | Buy Bulk |


Common Names
Joe-pye weed , Gravel or kidney root, Trumpet weed, purple or tall boneset
Botanical Name
Eupatorium purpureum
Family
ASTERACEAE or COMPOSITAE Sunflower family



Joe-pye weed Medicinal Properties & Benefits
Common Uses: Bladder Infection (UTI) Cystitis * Kidney *
Properties: Diuretic* Anti-inflammatory* Febrifuge* Nervine*
Parts Used: Rhizome and roots
Constituents: Flavonoids (including eupatorin), volatile oil, resin

Joe Pye weed is named after a legendary Indian healer who used a decoction of the plant to cure typhus fever in colonial America. Native tribes used gravel root as a healing tonic included relieving constipation, washing wounds with a strong tea made from the root to prevent infection and as a general tonic taken during pregnancy and after childbirth. Use as a pregnancy tonic is not recommended by herbalists today. The common name gravel root, reflects its main use as a diuretic used to treat urinary infections and stones (gravel). Related Species Boneset, E. perfoliatum

[Gormy Cuss]

5. Amaranth?

In spite of the fact that some types of amaranth are grown for food or ornamental use, other varieties are considered weeds. They tend to be upright, tallish, and have flower heads like celosia.

I couldn't find a good picture -- the ones on the Wiki page don't do it justice.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaranthus

[flying_wahini]

6. sounds more like sumac

just an idea....

pick one there are several to choose from http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&source=hp&q=sumac&gbv=2&aq=f&oq=&aqi=g10

beautiful in the fall, rather invasive

[hippywife]

7. That's what it sounds like to me, too. n/t

[raccoon]

9. I'm familiar with sumac. It's around here, too. THis plant has a head on it like oats, sort of. nt

[FloriTexan]

10. What do the leaves look like? Could it be a grass?

like sea oats:

http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&source=hp&q=sea+oats&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=2&aq=f&oq=&aqi=

[raccoon]

11. It could be a grass. But it isn't sea oats. It's not found on the beach. nt