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Plant with two different types of leaves. #769225

Asked August 26, 2021, 10:07 AM EDT

Good Morning, I was wondering if you could point me in the right direction to identify a plant. This plant is growing in my raised planter box. There were watermelon and cantaloupe planted in the box this season, with a potato and asparagus plant growing from last years planting. This is out doors, so birds and critters could easily deposit seeds on the bed. It appears to have two different types of leaves on the same plant. The ones that extend outward and are symmetrical spear point leaves. The ones that grow closer to the stalk are multi pointed, asymmetrical, and appear to have between 5-7 points. They are shaped like whirlpools or small galaxies. (please pardon the description). They also have a lot of tiny flowers blooming near the stalk. Just wondering what it is, because I have never seen a plant with two different types of leaves on it.

Anne Arundel County Maryland

Expert Response

This looks like a type of Acalypha, similar to  Maryland native weeds, Virginia Three-Seeded Mercury aka Virginia Copperleaf (Acalypha virginica, formerly known as Acalypha digyneia) or Acalypha rhomboidea.

You can compare to photos on this site: 

https://www.marylandbiodiversity.com/view/8063

Some plants do develop different leaf shapes as they age. Sassafrass is an interesting and unusual example for a tree in that it can have 3 different leaf shapes on the same tree- football, mitten and oval shapes.

Christine

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