What plant is distinctly smelly, has several fan-like, serrated leaves, and has been cultivated for centuries for both medicinal and recreational purposes, to the point of spawning an entire subculture? Gosh, we don’t know, but it seems to be growing in the wilds of Union Square Park. Anyone sensitive to the appearance of different types of plants might notice what appears to be a cluster of marijuana, one large sapling and a few smaller sprouts, in a raised garden in the park. We sent these photos to Senior Cultivation Editor Danny Danko at High Times; here’s his expert opinion:

It absolutely is cannabis sativa (pot, weed, marijuana). It was either a possible accidental sort of thing where a seed was tossed out, but there’s also internet chatter about planting seeds to “overgrow” the government, in as many places a possible, willy-nilly. These aren’t the expensive seeds we talk about in the magazine, but seeds people find in their pot and toss.