By Bathgate
New York,
United States 
Hello, Can anyone ID this plant for me please? These purple flower spikes go up 8-10 inches. I consider it a weed. Thank You.
It doesn't have much of a base, here's another pic.
4 Jun, 2015
Answers
Lovely colour.
5 Jun, 2015
Is there a basal clump of leaves? can't see the base...
5 Jun, 2015
Is it periwinkle? If it is it will ramble everywhere.
5 Jun, 2015
It Reminds me of Codonopsis...a relative of campanula, but the habit is not familiar to me.
5 Jun, 2015
I could do with weeds like that in our garden...
5 Jun, 2015
Quite agree, Stera - I would cherish it!
5 Jun, 2015
Wouldn't be a weed in mine either.
6 Jun, 2015
Hah, so no leaves a the base at all, weird. I'm not sure what it is, very intriguing, although not much use to you, is it, the fact I'm intrigued;-)
6 Jun, 2015
Now I'm intrigued.
6 Jun, 2015
Right, got it - its Triodanis perfoliata, one of your native plants - its an annual, so if you're getting it year on year, its because its seeding itself. I wouldn't be at all unhappy if it was seeding itself here, I think its attractive. Common name (for some odd reason) is Venus' Looking Glass. It is in the Campanulaceae or Bellflower family, so Bulbaholic's answer wasn't too far off the mark...
6 Jun, 2015
Wow thanks Bamboo. That was a real mission wasn't it? I just read the name is reference to a European relative. Always nice to learn new things. Good job!
6 Jun, 2015
I enjoy a mission, when something has piqued my curiosity... the joy when you pin it down is worth it!
6 Jun, 2015
yes I know, keeps the mind sharp too.
6 Jun, 2015
It is a Campanula of sorts and looks very nice.
5 Jun, 2015