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Latin Name: Salsola Tragus
Common Name: Russian Thistle
Other Names: Tumbleweed, common saltwort, saltwort, Russian tumbleweed, tumbling weed, windwitch, witchweed
Pest Details
Origin:
Native to Eurasia, but introduced to the United States from Russia in sacks of flaxseed, that spilled along railways as it was transported, spreading the weed throughout the western U.S.
Biology:
An annual broadleaf weed that grows particularly well in drier climates, but capable of infesting virtually any agricultural, landscape, or roadside situation. It also serves as a host of the sugarbeet leafhopper, which transmits curly to virus to vegetable crops. Seeds germinate from late winter into early summer, and the plants mature in late summer into the fall. Each plant produces enormous numbers of seeds, and due to its rolling movement in strong winds it may disperse these over great distances.
Identification:
Mature plant is very
Latin Name: Salviniaceae
Common Name: Salvinia
Other Names: N/A
Pest Details
Biology:
Identification:
Characteristicts Important to Control:
Latin Name: Capsella Bursa-pastoris
Common Name: Shepherd's Purse
Other Names: Shepherd's bag, pepper plant, case weed, pick-purse, lady's purse, St. James weed, shepherd's pouch, mother's heart.
Pest Details
Origin:
Native to Eurasia, but now found throughout North America as far north as Alaska.
Biology:
A winter annual that produces a basal rosette of leaves and multiple stems from the base. Reproduction is from seeds, with the seeds germinating from late summer to early spring.
Identification:
Mature plants may be as tall as 20 inches, and stems are slim and weak, tending to fall over as they grow. Stems are covered with long, gray hairs. Leaves mainly as the rosette around the base of the plant, as well as a few leaves on the upper stems. The upper leaves clasp the stem and are narrow and sharply pointed. The lower leaves are long and deeply lobed into many leaflets, as well as a triangular
Latin Name: Polygonum Argyrocoleon
Common Name: Silversheath Knotweed
Other Names: Persian knotweed
Pest Details
Origin:
Native to southwest Asia
Biology:
Annual plant with very similar biology to Prostrate Knotweed. Although it is an annual, and propagates by seeds, the seeds may germinate in late fall, and plants may be present in the winter and even flower then.
Identification:
Distinguished from prostrate knotweed by its more erect growth and longer, rose-colored flower spikes. Mature plant grows up to 24 inches tall. Wiry stems have many branches. Leaves similar to prostrate knotweed as small, oval, and without hairs, but with a dull, light green appearance. At the base of the leaf stem a conspicuous silvery sheath wraps around the stem. Flowers are small, pinkish, and borne on short stalks in small clusters that grow off of the flower stems at the top of the plant. Flower stems may be up to 1 foot long.
Characteristicts
Latin Name: Digitaria Ischaemum
Common Name: Smooth Crabgrass
Other Names: N/A
Pest Details
Origin:
Native to Europe and now widespread in the United States.
Biology:
A summer annual grass weed, found in virtually any situation – row crops, orchards, pastures, roadsides, landscape, turf. Seeds germinate from very early spring throughout the summer months, and plants mature from late spring through the summer into early fall. Lower joints of the stems also tend to extend roots where they touch the ground, and the plants will spread laterally in this manner.
Identification:
One of two principal species of crabgrass, Smooth Crabgrass may be distinguished from the more common Large Crabgrass by its smaller size and smooth leaves. Mature plants may be prostrate or upright, depending on the growing condition. In regularly mowed turf they adapt with lower stems. Stems may be as long as 28 inches, and are branched at the base.
Latin Name: Lotus Purshianus
Common Name: Spanish Clover
Other Names: N/A
Pest Details
Origin:
Native to the western United States, and widely distributed from southern Canada south into Mexico in the west.
Biology:
An annual weed that becomes a problem in most kinds of crops, as well on non-cultivated areas such as waste lots, roadsides, ditch banks. Propagation is from seeds that germinate in early spring.
Identification:
Mature plants may be somewhat erect, but usually have a low, spreading, mat-like growth. They are extensively branched, with stems reaching well over 2 feet in length and sometimes over 2 feet in height. Stems and leaves are generally covered with soft, grayish hairs, but sometimes may be hairless. Leaves are divided into 3 leaflets that are oblong, and the middle leaflet is on a stalk. Flowers are white to very light pink, small, and grow singly on short stalks arising from the
Latin Name: Cerastium Glomeratum
Common Name: Sticky Chickweed
Other Names: Annual mouse-ear chickweed
Pest Details
Origin:
Native to Europe, and now found throughout the United States.
Biology:
An annual that reproduces from seeds. Seeds germinate in the fall, and mature plants can be found in the winter. Plants growing in the shade or in turf tend to have only a few branches, while those in the sun are widely branched and spreading.
Identification:
Mature plants grow as tall as 15 inches. Stems are thin and weak, and tend to fall over easily. The stems, leaves, and leaf stalks are very hairy and somewhat sticky to the touch. Leaves are in pairs on opposite sides of the stem, and are oval and dark green. They may be on short stalks or no stalks. Flowers grow in dense clusters at the ends of the stems, and are small and white, with 5 petals that each has a deep notch at its top.
Characteristicts
Latin Name: Trifolium Subterraneum
Common Name: Subterranean Clover
Other Names: Sub clover
Pest Details
Origin:
Native to Europe and introduced to the United States, where it now is found along the Pacific Coast, and from Louisiana along the Gulf States to Florida and sporadically north along the Atlantic Coast.
Biology:
An annual weed that grows prostrate and spreading, with stems growing out to a diameter of several feet. It can be a very invasive weed in poorly maintained turf, creating thick mats that crowd out desirable grasses. It does not grow well in shaded areas and generally needs moist soils.
Identification:
Mature plants are prostrate and spreading, and openly mat-like. Stems are tough and wiry, often reddish, and are covered with short, soft hairs. The leaves are alternate and distantly spaced along the stems, and are divided into 3 separate, heart-shaped leaflets. The flower heads contain
Latin Name: Anthoxanthum Odoratum
Common Name: Sweet Vernalgrass
Other Names: Annual vernalgrass
Pest Details
Origin:
Native to Europe, and now spread widely across the U.S. , south through Latin America, and in Asia and Australia.
Biology:
Usually a winter annual, but it may persist as a perennial in cooler climates. Propagation is from seeds. Plants may be found in most habitats, including turf, roadsides, or any disturbed site.
Identification:
Numerous upright stems are produced from the base of the plant, creating a large tufted appearance. Mature plants may be as tall as 2 feet, with the upper two thirds being the elongated stems with the seed heads. Leaf blades are very long and very thin, with a membranous ligule at their base. Seed heads form an elongate spike with large, awned spikelets along it. Flowers form in early to late spring, and produce a strong, sweet odor when crushed. The tiny flowers produced
Latin Name: Panicum Repens
Common Name: Torpedograss
Other Names: N/A
Pest Details
Origin:
Thought to have originated in Europe, but now found on most continents and in the U.S. from the Carolinas along the Gulf states to Texas.
Biology:
A perennial weed which spreads by its sharply pointed rhizomes, forming thick, widespread mats on the soil. Propagation is primarily due to rhizomes, but some from seeds as well.
Identification:
Plants have stiff, erect stems which generally are no more than about 2 feet high, ending with the branched seed heads. Leaves are either flat or somewhat folded, and the upper surface is hairy. A membranous ligule is present which has a row of hairs on its upper margin. Seed heads branch freely, and small, oval spikelets form along the stems. The spikelets are very light colored and are on short stalks.
Characteristicts Important to Control:
Plants are spread