"(The biology students') assignment was to grow various herbs, vegetables, annuals and perennials, but not marijuana. I've never heard of this happening before and it's definitely unusual, and gutsy."

- U-M Police Lt. Bob Neumann.

By ART AISNER

The Ann Arbor News

The University of Michigan's Matthaei Botanical Gardens is known for its collection of diverse and exotic plants, but employees and police were surprised by what they found mixed in with a student project Monday morning.

Police confiscated 11 small green plants believed to be cannabis Monday morning after an employee responsible for monitoring a biology course's research project found the suspicious sprouts, said U-M Police Lt. Bob Neumann.

The plants were found on the corner of a large table inside a greenhouse of the gardens off of Dixboro Road in Ann Arbor Township.

"(The biology students') assignment was to grow various herbs, vegetables, annuals and perennials, but not marijuana," Neumann said. "I've never heard of this happening before and it's definitely unusual, and gutsy."

Neumann said samples will be taken to the Michigan State Police crime lab for evidence collection and testing.

About 80 students in a single biology course are participating in the project, which will continue, Neumann said. He said the plants appear to have been planted at the beginning of the semester.

Art Aisner can be reached at aaisner@annarbornews.com or 734-994-6823.