Strange plant, very red seed pod

Discussion in 'Plant ID' started by raycin1019, Sep 22, 2010.

  1. raycin1019

    raycin1019 New Seed

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    sorry for the bad pics but it is a plant/bush, approximately 4 feet tall that i found in the middle of the woods in the mountains of NC.

    it has a seed pod that looks about the size of a dime, which is very red and has a rough surface. The pod splits in the middle and has a red seed inside that eventually hangs down while the seed pod petals move up, forming line a hard umbrella. The seeds look live very small reddish/pink tomatoes

    the leaves are rather small and green

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    ( photo / image / picture from raycin1019's Garden )





    [​IMG]
    ( photo / image / picture from raycin1019's Garden )
     
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  3. stratsmom

    stratsmom Flower Fanatic

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    Very interesting... :-? I don't know what it is but I'm willing to bet that someone here can identify it for you ;)
     
  4. Palustris

    Palustris Young Pine

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    One of the Cornus family.
     
  5. eileen

    eileen Resident Taxonomist Staff Member Moderator Plants Contributor

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    I agree - possibly Cornus kousa Kousa.
     



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  6. Palustris

    Palustris Young Pine

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    C. kousa is from China and if this was growing wild in N.C. it is more likely top be C. florida.
     
  7. raycin1019

    raycin1019 New Seed

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    its not a dogwood tree... the seed pods of the dogwood (Cornus Florida) are smooth... these seed pods are very rough and "bumpy"..i have dogwoods in my yard and am familiar with their pods..and this was a bush, not a single tree-like plant
     
  8. toni

    toni Mistress of Garden Junque Staff Member Moderator Plants Contributor

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    There are some varieties of Dogwood that are shrubs but I can't find any photos of seed pods like those connected with them.
    It's a shame we can't see more of the plant, IDing sometimes is much easier when you can see leaves and possibly the whole plant.

    Contact your local Country Extension office or your local Master Gardener program, they might be able to ID it for you since they are familiar with the local wild plants.
     
  9. FlowerFreak22

    FlowerFreak22 In Flower Plants Contributor

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    Oh, I love these plants. What you have there is called Strawberry Bush(Euonymus americanus). The flowers are very small and green so they are hard to see when it is blooming, but the seed pods are what makes the plant stand out so much.
     
  10. toni

    toni Mistress of Garden Junque Staff Member Moderator Plants Contributor

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  11. Palustris

    Palustris Young Pine

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    Beat me to it. I was coming back with a Euonymus, but we had to go out for the day.
     

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