Is this a banned plant?

When we were all out in the garden the other day my grandson noticed a plant that shouldn't have been there. At first sight it looked very much like a cannabis but as I've never seen one before except on pictures I wasn't sure. So if anybody can identify it for me I'll be much obliged. It is just under a bird feeder station so the seed might have come from there. I am sorry the picture isn't as clear as it should be.

 

It's possible.. certainly looks like it.. but it's not unusual to find Cannabis plants popping up in random places. It looks like it's too young to have grown it's mature leaves, but I suspect what you have is Cannabis sativa.

I was told a story of how a Cannabis plant self seeded outside of front garden, but of course it's not illegal because it's not being grown in someone's possession - however I think residents were advised to remove it.

I doubt many people would automatically think of drying the leaves and making them into a big fat joint though, but I'd be cautious and remove it just in case someone knows.

 

Showed the pic to a friend who would be in the know he said its definately not cannabis

What it is i dont know but hes says that the leaf shape isnt right and it's missing two things on the leaves so yours has 5 and cannabis has 7 and his first reaction was a straight no

just do you know you dont dry the leaves only the buds for smoking but you can juice the leaves

 

I reckon it is

 

Might be a young elderberry.

 

recon it is,first leaves 3 finger as it grows it will throw out 5 finger leaves maybe more,but something has taken the top of it, it will grow into a nice bush (think green acer) how can a random plant be illegal not worth the paperwork or verbal warning.

 

They start off with single leaves, then 3 lobed, then 5 lobed, and finally 7 (or so I've heard). So watch out .....

 

i added the leaf bit in not him so as a non expert that was jut my observation

he still said no to it being cannabis

 

So:

3 for yes
1 for possible
1 for no (twice)
and 1 for elderberry​

Glad we've got that sorted!

 

just googled plants that look like cannabis to see what else it could be

some suggestions are a bit funny but the problem is most of the pages are american

can cleome grow in the uk?



could it also be a type of Kenaf Hibiscus cannabinus

 

I would vote in the 'yes' forum. It is a wildflower here although it is illegal to grow it!

The leaf structure is as Scrungee says ... 3, 5 to 7. Here is an internet picture of a young plant which looks similar ...



There are several discussions on GC where folk have found it growing under their bird feeders as apparently it is often one of the seeds included in mixes.

 

I scanned all images on google and the nearest I've come up with is a Japanese Maple.

I think the safest thing to do will be to take it out.

 

Yes...you never know .... your neighbours might shop you as a drug dealer!

 

The indentations on the leaves, the shape of the leaves, the fact its still young.. it's got to be Cannabis - not worth the agro over really. On the other hand, I will happily take it off your hands (joke)

 

You could always wait until it flowers to get a better ID. Just the flower buds forming should do quite nicely.

In the meantime I suggest a change of avatar!





P.S. The stem isn't clear in the pic, if it has vertical 'ridges' that could be the clincher, although they may not have formed yet.