Hello! I was out recording data for plots but i was stumped by these plant (given it is very early spring, snow just melted). This was found by a very small but perennial stream, i think very close or within the riparian zone
There is a furled up, dried leaf i couldn’t unfurl without it break (shocker!)
i also got a picture of the stem
by sapphire_sapphik
1 Comment
Really could be anything. Do you have any more pictures? Some clearer images of the lenticels, dried leaf, leaf scars, and the buds would be really helpful. Honestly I can only tell you what it’s not, not really what it is. It could be an elderberry but I’m very skeptical of that. My best guess is a young red maple sapling. Maple seems the most likely to me, Red Maple is just the closest match I could get from the maple varieties I’m familiar with. I think the leaf you showed could very well be maple although it’s very hard to tell, the lenticels line up well with how Maple saplings look, and the buds do look pretty accurate. I can’t say with much certainty though. Come back when the buds open and you can get some photos of the flowers or leaves and you’ll be able to tell for sure
Edit: Throwing in Silver Maple and some type of Alder as well.