Guess on plant

[farmettehopeful]

Wow. I have no input here but just want to say how awesome this site and its wonderful members are
I probably couldn't tell that plant was a sunflower even if I had planted it myself (I toss some seeds down and if something grows, I have to let it go until I can tell if it's a weed or flower

 

[The Mama Chicken]

Chris could be right, it might be a Jerusalem artichoke. I'm dying to try growing them.

 

[thistlebloom]

The leaves are similar, but JA's grow more stringy like if you know what I mean, and there tops don't come up in a bundle like a sunflowers does. Well, bundle is not a very good description, maybe rosette is a better term.

Mama chicken, I have a humongous plot of JA if you'd like some.

 

[897tgigvib]

Wellp, I think we need some more photos of this mystery plant!

Closeups

want a clear photo of the leaf, a clear shot of that petiole, a photo of the apical meristem rosette from above, want a shot of the main stem real close. I want to see if there are any spines or soft spinelets, to see if it is some kind of rare Abelmoschus Okra. Being down there in Texas, that could be the sole survivor of someone's cowhornokry...

Coursethenagain it could just be a dwarf birdseed sunflower that got into the lawn fertilizer a few times...

 

[The Mama Chicken]

Mama chicken, I have a humongous plot of JA if you'd like some.

I would love some! I'll send you a PM.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Wellp, I think we need some more photos of this mystery plant!

Closeups

want a clear photo of the leaf, a clear shot of that petiole, a photo of the apical meristem rosette from above, want a shot of the main stem real close. I want to see if there are any spines or soft spinelets, to see if it is some kind of rare Abelmoschus Okra. Being down there in Texas, that could be the sole survivor of someone's cowhornokry...

Coursethenagain it could just be a dwarf birdseed sunflower that got into the lawn fertilizer a few times...

I've asked my nephew a few of those questions, though I'll admit I used less technical terms for most of it. We'll see what he answers. I have a sneaky suspicion we're more passionate about figuring this out than he is and I think his girlfriend is more likely to give us better answers or photos. I'm not sure what the purpose of that cage is either? Support or just "don't mow here"? But it is fun trying to figure it out.

 

[digitS']

I feel fairly safe in identifying it as a DYC, Ridgerunner. (click)



While it is very likely a D****d Yellow Composite, the leaves are so large that most of the family would be excluded.

I often see Little Brown Jobs (LBJ's) hanging around plants like this when they begin to mature seed . I have decided that they aren't LBJ Vireos . . . However, the only real way I've ever been sure about those was finding them dead on the ground.

Which brings up the advice that I am sure Beavis would share with us if he sees this thread: "take measures right now, don't miss the good chance to kill them."

Steve