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Latin Name: Orthocarpus Purpurascens
Common Name: Owl's Clover
Other Names: Red owl clover, common owl’s clover, escobita
Pest Details
Origin:
A native plant that is widely distributed in the western United States, south into Mexico and north into southern Canada.
Biology:
An annual plant found commonly in open fields, along roadsides and vacant lots, in native pastures and in most disturbed sites. It also can be a weed in cultivated crops and orchards. Flowering begins in early spring and plants die by late spring in most habitats.
Identification:
Mature plants are usually no more than 1.5 feet tall, as erect, multiple branched plants, with branches arising from the base to near the top of the main stem. Stems are narrow but rigid, and are covered with shaggy hairs and are a reddish color. The leaves are separated into several long, thin lobes that do not quite meet the midrib. Flowers are reddish
Latin Name: Polygonum Pensylvanicum
Common Name: Pennsylvania Smartweed
Other Names: Swamp persicary, glandular persicary, purple head, pinkweed, hearts-ease
Pest Details
Origin:
Native to eastern North America, and introduced to the western states where it now can be found throughout most of the continent.
Biology:
An annual weed that reproduces from seeds. Plants favor moist soils, but will tolerate growth on most habitats, including roadsides, landscapes, and in many crop settings. Generally it is not a problem in turf.
Identification:
Plants have fairly weak stems that may grow either erect or sprawling, with growth to nearly 2 feet in height. Stems have multiple branching and are green to reddish, swollen at the joints and with the characteristic papery sheath (ocrea) around the joint and the bases of the leaves there. Leaves are shiny green and smooth, alternate, and lanceolate to somewhat
Latin Name: Hydrocotyle Spp.
Common Name: Pennywort
Other Names: Dollar weed, marsh pennywort, navelwort
Pest Details
Origin:
At least 15 species of Hydrocotyle occur in the United States and Hawaii, all very similar in appearance and habits. Most are native plants that occur primarily in warmer, more tropical climates.
Biology:
These are perennial plants that reproduce from seeds and spread rapidly by their rhizomes. Some larger-leaved varieties are aquatic and occur along marshes or pond margins, and all species favor a habitat with excessive moisture. Some are a serious turf pest.
Identification:
Pennywort, or Dollarweed, is easily identified by its thick, shiny, round leaves which attach to their stalk at the center of the leaf, creating an “umbrella” shape. The stalk is very long and upright, and leaves have distinctly scalloped margins. The flowers occur in clusters at the ends of stalks that
Latin Name: Lepidium Latifolium
Common Name: Perennial Pepperweed
Other Names: Broad-leaved peppergrass, Virginia pepperweed, perennial peppergrass, perennial peppercress, slender perennial peppercress, tall whitetop, giant whitetop.
Pest Details
Origin:
Native to Europe and western Asia, now widely distributed throughout the United States and into Mexico.
Biology:
A perennial weed with foliage that dies back in the winter, with regrowth from the roots beginning in late winter to early spring. Propagation also is by seeds that germinate in early spring. Plants begin to flower in late spring and seeds mature throughout the summer.
Identification:
Mature plants grow to over 3 feet tall, with large production of white flowers in clusters at the ends of the stems. Multiple branches and stems come from the strong crown of the plant, and it also has an extensive, creeping root system. Leaves are produced along the
Latin Name: Lolium Perenne
Common Name: Perennial Ryegrass
Other Names: English ryegrass
Pest Details
Origin:
Native to Europe, but now widely distributed throughout the United States.
Biology:
A perennial grass, widely cultivated as a pasture grass as well as a turf variety. As an escape from cultivation it is a problem in crops, roadsides, and ditchbanks, especially favoring moist areas. Flowering occurs in late spring into early summer.
Identification:
Mature plants grow to 2 feet tall, and foliage dies back in the winter with regrowth from roots. Stems are erect or somewhat spreading at the base, with a reddish tint. Italian ryegrass plants are generally taller, reaching 3 feet. Leaves are dark green, up to 8 inches long, and only ¼ inch wide. Where the leaf blade joins the sheath at the stem there are no “ear-like” projections, as there are on Italian ryegrass. Another difference is that on Perennial ryegrass
Latin Name: Veronica Persica
Common Name: Persian Speedwell
Other Names: Birdseye speedwell, Byzantine speedwell, winter speedwell
Pest Details
Origin:
Native to Europe and now widespread in North America.
Biology:
An annual broadleaf weed that may invade many crops, including alfalfa, and is of major importance as a pest in turf and landscape. Seeds germinate in late summer, fall, or early spring, or throughout the growing season where they remain cool and moist.
Identification:
Mature plants spread low along the ground, with multiple branches radiating from the base of the plant. When growing in shade or among competing plants the stems may grow upright. Stems are covered with long, fine hairs. Leaves along the lower area of the stem are opposite each other on the stem and are egg-shaped or round with rounded teeth along the edges. Leaves on the flowering parts of the stem are alternate on the stem.
Latin Name: Matricaria Matricarioides
Common Name: Pineapple Weed
Other Names: N/A
Pest Details
Origin:
Native to the western United States, but now found across the continent to the east coast and as far north as Alaska.
Biology:
A very low-growing annual weed whose seeds may germinate in either summer or winter. If germination occurs in late summer the rosettes of leaves persist through the winter. Reproduction is by seeds.
Identification:
Mature plants are capable of growing up to 12 inches tall, as a bushy, well-branched plant. The stems are smooth and hairless and all foliage has a sweet odor when crushed, similar to the odor of pineapple. Leaves are pinnately divided one to three times, resulting in lobes that are very fine and thin and giving the plant a soft look and feel. The flower heads are very distinctive, as from one to several heads on short stalks arising from the ends of the stems. The flower
Latin Name: Sida Spinosa
Common Name: Prickly Sida
Other Names: Prickly fanpetals
Pest Details
Origin:
Native to tropical Latin America and southern United States, and found throughout the eastern half of the U.S. and west into Arizona. It also has been introduced to Hawaii as a common roadside weed.
Biology:
An annual weed in cool climates, but a perennial in warm and tropical climates, where plants can grow up to 2 feet tall with tough, fibrous stems. Plants will grow in dense stands that crowd out other vegetation. Reproduction is from seeds, and this plant can be found along roadsides, in fields and pastures, and in any disturbed ground habitats.
Identification:
Plants may be unbranched or may have numerous stems arising from the base, often with short branches off of them. The younger stems are covered with short, soft hairs. The leaves are alternate, ovate to elongated, and up to 2 inches long.
Latin Name: Polygonum Arenastrum
Common Name: Prostrate Knotweed
Other Names: Common knotweed, doorweed, knotgrass, nutgrass, stonegrass, wiregrass, wireweed, knotweed, pinkweed, bird grass, goose grass, waygrass, matgrass
Pest Details
Origin:
Introduced from Europe. Now found throughout the United States and southern Canada.
Biology:
Annual, or weak perennial that may survive winters in moderate climates. Seeds germinate from November into spring, and plants become mature from late spring into the early fall. Prostrate knotweed differs from other knotweeds by its very low-growing habit, forming a dense mat on the surface of the soil. In cultivated fields the stems may begin to grow upright, standing even as high as 12 inches.
Identification:
Stems are tough, slender, and with a zigzag appearance, swollen at the joints and extensively branched. Where stems touch the ground they may form roots at the
Latin Name: Chamaesyce Humistrata
Common Name: Prostrate Spurge
Other Names: Milk purslane, spurge, milky spurge, spotted pursley.
Pest Details
Origin:
Native of the United States, and widely spread across the continent and south into South America
Biology:
Annual weeds with a prostrate, creeping growth, or an ascending growth when among other plants. When growing on open ground it is multiple branched and forms thick mats of foliage. Stems and leaves exude milky sap when broken. This is an extremely common weed in landscape and turf, as well as in roadside areas, ditch banks, and cultivated crops.
Identification:
Both prostrate and spotted spurge have growth habits and foliage nearly identical. Differences may be: (a.) Spotted spurge – does not root at the nodes, leaves are dark green with purple blotch in the middle, (b.) Prostrate spurge – roots at the nodes of the stems, leaves are pale green to gray-green