What Is This?

One of the exciting aspects of gardening and enjoying the great outdoors is encountering a new species and trying to figure out what the heck is this plant? A companion question is --- is this a plant that belongs here or did it get introduced accidentally? It's a good test of our ability to identify plants based on a few clues.

I had a recent chance to key out a small tree that was in bloom and was attracting many pollinators. My answer came out to be Autumn Olive, Eleaegnus umbellata, which is considered an invasive plant pest in this area. I recognize Autumn Olive when it is fully leafed out or when the plant is in fruit but hadn't seen it in flower. In this case, I'd say the plant does not belong in this wild spot, but others could argue with me about all the benefits this exotic plant provides to the local ecosystem.  And then I would point you fans of Autumn Olive to the Tennessee Exotic Pest Plant Council to press your argument.

March 25, 2012: What's this? 

Here's a plant that Nora Bernhardt located at the Jackson County Park in Alabama on March 25, 2012. There are a few Wild geranium plants above this plant and it looks like some Ranunculus family member to the right, which aren't thrown in to confuse.  To me, it looks like an unopen Daffodil, clearly a monocot and perhaps a member of the Lily family.  Does anyone know what it is? Just email chattanoogawildflowers@gmail.com with your answer.  We will update this page with the name of the plant and winner.