A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2007 identifying from just a leaf

Hi! I need help in identifying a leaf from a plant I transplanted to my yard after my mother died a couple years ago. I had thought it had purple flowers, but so far, no blossoms, plus it is much larger in my yard, about 18" high. It looks somewhat exotic, and my kids joke with me that it's pot or something. The leaves are large, about 7" long and almost as wide, somewhat palmate, with the central part having three joined lobes. Two lobes jut out at the base of the three joined ones. The leaves are pointed and finely toothed. The stems are green, yet tough, not quite woody. Is this thing worth keeping? I like the look of it. It spreads, but not in a wild, weedy, way, and is nicely bushy like a very full peony.

Howdy! Welcome from Kentucky!

Can't help you with the plant I.D., just wanted to say HI and welcome you to the forum. There is a "Mystery plants" topic in the forum. One of the Forum Hostesses will probably copy your post there for you so more will see it, and hopefully someone will be able to tell you what it is!

Nice to meet you!

Hello Back Mountain NEPA,
We are very glad you found us!

Welcome to The Garden Helper's Forum!!!


First off just so you know, I'm going to move your post into an area that's more largely traveled thru by our gardener's.... Who LOVE a good Mystery!!
Into the Mystery Section....

And then I'm going to say, if no one comes along with more questions, answers or a response, maybe think about getting a free thing that allow's you to post pictures on such as Web~shot\'s many of out gardeners have one and some have pictures on their providers, *I am not sure how to do that, but some may come thru to offer assistance. I know some have on their internet provider like msn... *

Anyhow, hopefully we'll get to the bottom of your
Mystery plant!!

And dont' forget to take a peak at all of our newer sections here, like Recipes, Crafts and Hobbies, and Banter Hall to get to Chat with all the member's and Gardener's Chat for weather conditions, etc....

Weezie

Thank you for the "welcomes." I've been a new member for a while, but have mostly been looking at the other posts. I don't own a digital camera and although I have a computer at home, I do almost all my computer stuff from work.
You can add me to the list of Grandmas. Two girls, ages 4 & 1 1/2. Although I've been gardening many years, there are always those Mysteries!

We Love Gramma's,
they are the best thing in the whole wide world!
(I had one that I lived right acrossed the street from and I did ALLLLLLLLot of stuff with my Granny! Miss her.)
But we have a good amount here we all get to talking with..

Anyhow, We'll try to see if we can figure out your leaf???

Weezie

I am in Western New York, are you in that area of Pa. We also have The Buglady and Jennifer V. and Carol and Barb H. and Sibyl~who just joined,
just a bunch from Pa, all very nice people!!!!

Hi Back Mountain NEPA

I'm sorry I can't help with your leaf either, but just wanted to welcome you. I'm new here too, and these folks are GREAT about trying to help you figure out what's growing. So far they've answered two mystery plants for me!

Hope someone can help,
-Eileen

here is what first popped into my mind! sweet potatoe vine

Well, I was out in the garden yesterday, and the plant is taller than I had thought--at least 36." I wish I could describe the leaf better. I guess you could describe the middle three lobes as being somewhat equal, but the middle one does not go right down to the base, giving the effect of a paw print, but pointed. The other two are narrower and shoot off to left and right of the base. The color is a dark green, the teeth small. It definitely isn't a sweet potato vine, being very bushy and full. The stems are green and firm, almost woody. Thanks, guys.

Back Mountain NEPA,
Anyone you know have a camera???

It's a shame, sounds like you
have an interesting plant there!

Wish we could help???????????????????????

Please keep us posted and check back often
someone, may come thru, you never know!!

Weezie

The link below might help in describing the leaf.

Leaf Identification

Success! sort of...
Well, I finally found an image online that is close to what I have: Fendler's Waterleaf, or at least a close member of that family. It's funny how I missed it earlier because I did go through my books at home. I think I was trying to get an exact match. Mine looks very much like Fendler's but without the bottom 2 leaflets. The teeth aren't as pronounced, either. One thing I've discovered is that most members of the Waterleaf family bear very little resemblance to one another in leaf shape, size, or appearance. It's hard to believe they're in the same family! I'm going to keep trying to see if I can get a closer match than Fendler's, but that is very close.
Thank's for all your help!