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Weed or Flowering plant #879458

Asked July 30, 2024, 4:30 PM EDT

Hello, can you ID this plant in my garden. Is it a weed or flowering plant, I didn't plant it. It's broad leaves close during the dark hours. Thank You.

Baltimore City County Maryland

Expert Response

This looks (and acts, with the leaf folding) like a type of Senna, a relative of (and sometimes mixed-in with) plants in the genus Cassia. We can't determine which exact species this is at this point, as flowers are usually key for narrowing-down plant ID; some species in this group are native and others are not (though not necessarily invasive). Our best guess, based on the leaf shape and relative size, is that this is Senna obtusifolia. If so, it is native to the southeastern U.S., but not native locally. Outside of its native range, it tends to be considered a weed, but it doesn't appear to spread rampantly in Maryland. Maryland Biodiversity Project does list it as invasive, but only has records of it occurring in two counties in the state at present.

Miri

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