Can anyone identify this plant shown in this photo?

Question

Photo:

http://s30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/benjyman/unknown%20plant/?action=view¤t=P9100149.jpg

Answer 1

I see no resemblence of the photo to the plant described in the answer above. Check out the link provided. The flower of Geum triflorum is on a long essentially leafless stem that starts at ground level and the leaves the plant does have do not show the needle--like shape of the mystery plant. It's also a small plant whose leaves form a rosette at ground level, whereas this mystery plant looks like a large twig from a bush or a tree. Here's a full description of G. triflorum:

http://www.naturenorth.com/spring/flora/tfavens/Favens.html

That said, what is it? My immediate reaction is that it is a member of the Protea family, which is very common in Australia (Banksia, Hakea, Telopea, etc.) and South Africa (Proteas, Leucospermums, Lecadendrons, etc.). Many of them have needle-shaped leaves, and many of them have feathery bracts ("flowers").

So I decided to get nosy. I looked at some of your (the asker's) questions and answers, and it looks like you are from Australia. That would seem to confirm my suspicions that it's a Protea family member. If so, where in Australia did you find the plant, at what time of the year, and tall was it? How big is the twig in the picture? Are the "flowers" dried out? Were the leaves spiny? There's a genus called Hakea--aka "needlebush".

I still haven't figured out what kind of Protea relative it is--I'll get back to you if I can.

Anyway, beautiful picture and a great question.

EDIT: If you don't get a satisfactory answer, a good place to contact might be the University of California at Santa Cruz, which has maybe the best collection of Proteas in the U.S. Contact them at:

[e-mail]

Make sure they know it's a Protea-related question--that's the email for the entire botanical garden. On the other hand, there are probably people in Australia who know just as much.

Answer 2

I know this as Prairie Smoke but it has several other common names. The latin is Geum triflorum.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/22021/