Plant Identification?

 Found this beauty in the woods, it stays green all winter (east TN)and
it goes down in the 20's and teens a lot with this staying green.  Last
fall I had dug up one (I didn't dig it up until I saw I had more of them
in the woods close by.)  I thought the one now in captivity was doing
well until today I took a walk in the woods to see how the others are.
Seems like the leaves on the captive one are severely stunted!
Otherwise looks healthy and getting ready to bloom.  I am going to plant
it in the garden, I just didn't find the right spot yet.  Looks like it
needs filtered light.  Does well with some direct sunlight but not too
much.  Here is a link to some pics:

https://picasaweb.google.com/tony.miklos/UnknownPlant02?authkey=Gv1sRgCN_5l4zH-4CrrAE&feat=directlink

Hmm, I used to be able to post links without them being broken so I
guess you will have to cut and paste it.

 On 4/15/11 5:53 PM, Tony Miklos wrote:

https://picasaweb.google.com/tony.miklos/UnknownPlant02?authkey=Gv1sRgCN_5l4zH-4CrrAE&feat=directlink

Although they appear different, both the woodland and potted plants
appear to be a form of Geranium.  These would be "true" Geraniums and
not Pelargoniums, which are commonly called "geraniums".

On the other hand, they might indeed be Pelargonium tomentosum (t
geranium).

--
David E. Ross
Climate:  California Mediterranean
Sunset Zone: 21 -- interior Santa Monica Mountains with some ocean
influence (USDA 10a, very close to Sunset Zone 19)
Gardening diary at <http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary>

 On 4/15/2011 10:41 PM, David E. Ross wrote:

https://picasaweb.google.com/tony.miklos/UnknownPlant02?authkey=Gv1sRgCN_5l4zH-4CrrAE&feat=directlink

Yes, I believe they are the same or related, they are all in one 200sq'
area in the woods, the potted one with rounded leaves was right there
with the rest of the "pointy leaf" ones.  The coloring and variegation
on the leaves are identical, and so far the flower "spikes" are
identical.  Now that the pointy leaf kind is multiplying in the woods,
I'll surely add one of those to the garden also.  I won't did up
anything that may be the only one around.




I don't think it's the tomentosum, there is no mint like smell, but I
see the Pelargoniums in general, some have pointy and some have round
leaves.  Could be it.  I'm anticipating the flowers to compare them.
Still, the variegation of the leaves on mine is 100 times more beautiful
then any I saw pics of or have seen in person.

I hope I don't find out someone threw an ailing potted geranium
in the woods and that's what I have!  Although the foliage is so pretty,
it doesn't matter what it turns out to be.

 Tony Miklos said:

authkey=Gv1sRgCN_5l4zH-4CrrAE&feat=directlink

That's a Heuchera, AKA alum root, possibly H. americana.  The leaf color
and shape is naturally quite variable, which has allowed for many
domestic cultivars to be derived from an already attractive wild plant.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heuchera_americana
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=HEAM6

--
Pat in Plymouth MI
    
"Yes. Swooping is bad."
 
email valid but not regularly monitored
  

 
I knew this one would get a reply from Pat!  How are you, we actually
have a sunny day...
  I looked at the photos last nite and it was too
late to do searches so I had just settled on Saxifrage Family so far.
I agree it should be a
Heuchera.  The pointy foliage one almost looks like a Heucherella.  Do
those hybrids occur
in the wild, do you know?

Beautiful variations in foliage of Heuchera now, YES. and I have about
15 or so of them!
and about 4 Heucherella, and a couple Tiarella.  Do you think I like
them or what?

Hi Tony
Beautiful plant.  I think the tall flower stalk with its fat buds
pretty much rules out the
Geranium Family.  Let us know what it is like in bloom.  I have the
western version of
Alum Root, H. micrantha, and also another CA native H. maxima. Both
blooming right now.


Emilie
Nor CAL