Flower From Birdseed ID

[May]

Does anyone know what this is? It's sprouted up from some wild bird seed. We have these and miniature sunflowers all around where the birds feed!

Sorry if it isn't sharp enough, I was literally hanging out of the french windows, gripping the frame for support and holding the camera at arms length as it's raining ... again!

[Paul mabbott]

It looks a bit like a Tagetes but I've not heard of those in bird seed ...

[Tiggrx]

This is Niger (Guizotia abyssinica) a common constituent of birdseed

[carlj]

I recall an urban legend about an elderly lady who threw out seed daily, some of which sprouted. One day, after weeks of her new "flower" being admired, the police came and arrested her for growing cannabis.

[Tiggrx]

Originally Posted by carlj

I recall an urban legend about an elderly lady who threw out seed daily, some of which sprouted. One day, after weeks of her new "flower" being admired, the police came and arrested her for growing cannabis.

Perhaps not an urban legend - Cannabis commonly sprouts from birdseed - I've certainly seen it in peoples gardens.

[Owl-Light]

Originally Posted by Tiggrx

Perhaps not an urban legend - Cannabis commonly sprouts from birdseed - I've certainly seen it in peoples gardens.

Well I never, I wonder if its in my mix?

Quite a lot of things have sprouted from dropped birdseed in our garden - pigeons chuck it all over the shop. Niger is pretty, kinda hope I see some of those next year, now that I've put up a Niger feeder too.

Nothing wacky has sprouted on my patch yet incidently
Best be careful how this thread develops now or it will get Modded.

[mrs fish]

I like to grow some of the birdseed, I usuallly have sunflower and rapeseed germinate, no hemp though, I gave the birds some pumpkin seeds earlier this year and a couple of them have germinated, I have had millet grow also from the budgies food.

[Paul mabbott]

You're the lucky one! I've never got it to germinate from well-planted seed (just as an experiment, you appreciate) ... outdoors in Yorkshire, at least ...

Originally Posted by Tiggrx

Perhaps not an urban legend - Cannabis commonly sprouts from birdseed - I've certainly seen it in peoples gardens.

[Paul mabbott]

For years I've wondered what nyger plants were like ... another one I've been unable to germinate, ho hum ....

Originally Posted by Tiggrx

This is Niger (Guizotia abyssinica) a common constituent of birdseed

[aeshna5]

I used to have a niger feeder in my garden for the Goldfinches which they initially appreciated, but after a while stopped using it, but stuck to eating sunflower hearts. I've often spinkled niger seed in the garden + have never seen it flower- perhaps it just germinates in my garden + is immediately grazed by molluscs, as no obvious sign of it appears, which is a shame given its appearance from your photo.