Clover shaped phenomenon?

[SnuffmeisterUK]

I've spotted this twice now, sadly the last seedling that had it died off, if you look at the image my virginia seedling has a second shoot that is darker and has brought a clover shaped leaf out.. I'm not worried just interested what the heck is going on with it. To be clear- this is attached to the tobacco plant not growing alongside it.

 

[SnuffmeisterUK]

Pic

 

[deluxestogie]

I can't identify it, but the brownish trefoil is clearly not tobacco. My first guess would be that it is a plant parasite of some kind. It doesn't look right for mistletoe.

Bob

 

[SnuffmeisterUK]

Oh wow! Should I kill it for fear of spreading etc?

 

[GreenDragon]

Generally parasitic plants attack mature host plants, not seedlings. It's hard to tell from the picture, but the suspect plant does not appear to have tricombs on the cotyledons, leading me to believe that it is just a contaminating seed that germinated in your tray. Looks similar to common woodsorrel to me.

 

[deluxestogie]

The sure test is to gently pluck it out from the soil.

Bob

 

[SnuffmeisterUK]

Generally parasitic plants attack mature host plants, not seedlings. It's hard to tell from the picture, but the suspect plant does not appear to have tricombs on the cotyledons, leading me to believe that it is just a contaminating seed that germinated in your tray. Looks similar to common woodsorrel to me.

Ah I suppose it could be something as simple that, looking at it compared to the other plants it looks indentical to the tobacco until this brown/clover stalk started. Must have been lurking in the seed mix!

 

[poplarshepherd]

I know this post is old, but those clover-like plants are likely some species of Oxalis, a weedy plant native to North America.

 

[FmGrowit]

It looks like Sour Grass, aka Wood Sorrell, but way too young to positively identify visually.

 

[FmGrowit]

If your seedlings are dying, it's most likely due to the presence of urea in your potting soil. I learned this lesson the hard way too.

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

It looks like Sour Grass, aka Wood Sorrell, but way too young to positively identify visually.

That's what I was thinking but after looking it up, Oxalis is wood sorrel, so we all agree.