What kind of flower is this?

[lesged]

Can anyone ID this flower? It was taken yesterday growing on sandy land in front of Marineland boardwalk. I wasn't sure which forum to use for ID'ing flowers.

Thanks in advance,

Les

[NancyB]

I've checked quite a few sites for the name of this flower, but it doesn't appear anywhere, which makes me think it's a weed.  It's not a Brown Eyed Susan or a daisy, even though it looks like one.  It's a puzzle.

[KirkT]

then what's the difference between a weed and a flower?  I assumed a flower was something that...well, flowered.   Is the term weed applied to any unwanted plant then?

[KirkT]

I think I got it;  they call it a  yellow blossom here, or maybe just a description.  they seem to indicate that it is a wild sunflower

http://www.tinmanphotography.com/FlowersoftheField.html

6th photo down

[r-brian]

It's Wedelia trilobata, commonly known as Wedelia.  It's an ornamental ground cover used throughout Florida, and probably other warm areas.  It's a very salt tolerant ground cover that does a great job of stabilizing sandy and dune areas.  You plant sprigs of it and it spreads quickly.  Can become troublesome in natural environments.

Amazingly, after being away from Florida for 11 years, the name popped right out of my brain.  I guess those 2 years being a "Certified Florida Nursery Professional" back in the early 90's paid off.

I'll be sending my bill for consulting services later.

Brian

[KirkT]

the pedals look different

[r-brian]

the pedals look different

Petals look different than what, Wedelia?

Guarantee it's Wedelia.  Purplish stems, fuzzy-ish leaves.  I managed a retail nursery in Florida and sold hundreds of trays of this stuff.   Plus did landscaping on the side and plant, cut and dug up more of this stuff than I care to remember.  Also, when working for the FL Health Dept., persuaded the State Health Office to recognize Wedelia as an acceptable cover for septic drainfields.

[KirkT]

no, I believe you.  I should note that me asking questions rarely is to question the knowledge of the person who stated the information, but more for me to learn more things I don't know.  Sorry, it's backwards.  

[NancyB]

So it's a ground cover that flowers, but acts like a weed by spreading and becoming a nuisance.  Interesting.

[Madrigal]

That's a nice shot, Les. Not what you'd expect near the beach.

There a quite a few plants that are considered invasive south of us here in North Central FL that are fine right here because they don't tolerate the cold and freeze back down to the ground every winter.  One example- golden dewdrop. I got one a few years ago, then I learned it could be invasive. Now I try to get plants from nurseries that offer native and non-invasive plants.

I almost got a Sea Grape, which I love, but I don't think it would survive our winter freezes.

[lesged]

Thanks Nancy, Kirk and Brian for looking in and helping me identify this flower.
So it's Wedelia, trilobata.

I appreciate you nailing it down, Brian! I never studied Latin, but from Italian, I'm guessing  trilobata means three lobed.  But when I looked at the photo I couldn't see a three leaf pattern as in clover and trillium.

A little knowledge can be dangerous and often leads me to wrong conclusions. Please put me on the right track. What does trilobata mean?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rose,

I saw your comment after I posted my reply. Thanks for peeking in and what you said about not trying to transplant the wedelia back in New England. Claudia was planning to try to do it.

Brian,

Any chance it will take in sandy soil up north?

[r-brian]

Wedelia - Latin for G. Wedel, German botanist
trilobata - Latin for three lobed leaf; however, the leaf can be variable from 3 lobed to simple rough toothed margins

I never studied Latin either, I just have a good book for Florida ornamental plants, 'Florida, My Eden' by Frederic Stresau

[Madrigal]

Rose,

I saw your comment after I posted my reply. Thanks for peeking in and what you said about not trying to transplant the wedelia back in New England. Claudia was planning to try to do it.

Actually, I wasn't saying that at all. It's worth looking into, though.
it's probably just fine.

Can't believe you have to go back up there already

[r-brian]

Wedelia basically melts into a black ooze with the first heavy frost.  It's definitely a tropical plant.  Coastal Florida is as far north as it goes.  I'm surprised it is even growing in North Florida.

[LarryD]

It will grow in Tennessee ... in a pot and in the summer... then black ooze.... but global warming ma make it different... Oh wait I don't believe in that.... LOL