Identify Winter Spurge - Ask Extension
We have a plant growing on the edge of the Suttons Bay Wetland that might be Winter Spurge.
I am interested in making the identification. Could you...
Knowledgebase
Identify Winter Spurge #753690
Asked June 03, 2021, 9:17 AM EDT
We have a plant growing on the edge of the Suttons Bay Wetland that might be Winter Spurge.
I am interested in making the identification. Could you direct me to ID resources for Winter Spurge?
I would also like to know whether it is exotic to NW Lower Michigan.
Leelanau County Michigan
Expert Response
Thank you for sending those photos. Please compare to Barbarea vulgaris.
https://michiganflora.net/images.aspx?id=611
https://www.invasiveplantatlas.org/subject.html?sub=5175
https://michiganflora.net/genus.aspx?id=Barbarea
Thank you for your prompt reply. The links provided were very helpful.
Bob Walton
The leaves of the plant are very narrow, dissimilar to Barbarea vulgaris.
Barbarea orthoceras shown in the last link provided has the very narrow leaves similar to the subject plant.
If I go by my amateur judgement of the leaf shape I think it's Northern Winter Cress (barbarea orthoceras).
Bob Walton
On Jun 3, 2021, at 12:31, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
I have just learned that the narrow appendages are not leaves but rather stems left after blossoms have fallen off. So I retract my claim that it looks like Barbara orthoceres.
I will take a closer look at the broader leaves on the subject plant which apparently are found much lower near the ground.
Bob Walton
Bob Walton
On Jun 3, 2021, at 18:51, Robert Walton <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
Thank you for your prompt reply. The links provided were very helpful.The leaves of the plant are very narrow, dissimilar to Barbarea vulgaris.Barbarea orthoceras shown in the last link provided has the very narrow leaves similar to the subject plant.If I go by my amateur judgement of the leaf shape I think it's Northern Winter Cress (barbarea orthoceras).Bob WaltonOn Jun 3, 2021, at 12:31, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
It is a tricky one! I went back and forth with the two. I really only had the top leaves, flower shape and color to go on. Not always a determining factor and this is constantly changing, but Barbarea orthoceras hasn't been "spotted" in your area and the two are very similar. I don't know if you are familiar with keying plants for idea, but here is a great resource if you wanted to explore further
