This plant is growing along the side of the road near me. This is in an urban neighborhood with some small wooded areas. Since I first spotted it about a month ago the group has almost doubled in size.
It grows in a large colony made up of many individual plants. Each plant is about 8-12" tall.
The leaves are about 6" X 6". They aren't exactly hairy, but have a strange suede like texture. All the leaves originate from one base - there is no branching and no flowers that I am aware of.
The stem has a rhubarb like purpley color near the leaf and the plant has a tap root.
Any help will be appreciated. I think this is a weed, but an extremely handsome weed. I would like to know more about it.
There are many deer in the area, but they don't eat this.
I live in the Syracuse, N.Y.
Thank you.