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Latin Name: Polygonum Caespitosum
Common Name: Tufted Knotweed
Other Names: Smartweed, Oriental Lady’s-thumb
Pest Details
Origin:
Native to Asia, and now found along the entire east coast of the United States, south through Florida and west to Louisiana.
Biology:
A summer annual, growing either erect or sprawling, with many branches of thin, long stems. Reproduction is from seeds which germinate in the spring, with flowering from mid-summer into the fall. It is particularly a problem in moist situations, especially along borders of turf or ornamental plantings.
Identification:
Mature plants may be several feet tall, or stems may be more sprawling and prostrate. The papery sheath, or ocrea, that is present around the base of the petiole and at stem junctions is indicative of this family of weeds. On tufted knotweed the ocrea has a distinct fringe of long hairs at the top margin, separating it from Pennsylvania
Latin Name: Amaranthus Albus
Common Name: Tumble Pigweed
Other Names: White pigweed, tumble weed, tumbling pigweed.
Pest Details
Origin:
Native to tropical Americas, and now widespread throughout much of North America.
Biology:
An annual weed reproducing by seed, and a problem weed in virtually all kinds of crops, as well as landscape, roadsides, ditch banks, and empty lots and waste areas. Roots are shallow, and dry plants may break free of the soil and be scattered by the wind, much like tumbleweed or Russian Thistle.
Identification:
Mature plants are more open than most other pigweed varieties. They are multiple branched off of the central stem, and can grow to 4 feet in height. Stems are light green to whitish, with alternate leaves. The leaves grow to 2 inches long and have wavy margins and prominent veins. Leaves are light green on top and sometimes tinged with reddish on the lower surface. Flowers are
Latin Name: Chroococcales
Common Name: Unicellular Blue-Green Algae
Other Names: N/A
Pest Details
Biology:
Identification:
Characteristicts Important to Control:
Latin Name: Abutilon Theophrasti
Common Name: Velvetleaf
Other Names: China jute, pie marker, buttonweed, Indian mallow, butter print, velvet weed, butter weed, Indian hemp, cotton weed, wild cotton
Pest Details
Origin:
Native to southern Asia, but introduced to the United States as an ornamental plant and now found throughout the U.S., southern Canada, and into Latin America as an escape from cultivation.
Biology:
A summer annual plant that can grow as tall as 5 feet. Propagation is from seeds that are capable of germinating from several inches deep in the soil, and which can remain viable for up to 50 years in the soil. This is a serious weed pest in row crops, especially corn, and also is found in nurseries, roadsides, and in landscape.
Identification:
Mature plants grow upright with a single, usually un-branched stem that can reach 5 feet in height. Stems and leaves are covered with soft hairs, giving the
Latin Name: Diodia Virginiana
Common Name: Virginia Buttonweed
Other Names: N/A
Pest Details
Origin:
Native to the United States, and found from Texas north to Illinois, east to the Atlantic coast and south to all the Gulf Coast states.
Biology:
This is a perennial weed that may grow prostrate or ascending, and is capable of forming mats. It tolerates close mowing, but where not mowed may grow as tall as 30 inches. Propagation is from seeds, roots, and from stem fragments. The foliage dies back in cold weather, with re-growth from the roots.
Identification:
Stems usually are prostrate, with rooting at their nodes. The stems are covered with hairs and are a reddish color. Leaves are opposite and attach to the stems without a stalk, but at the base there may be an elongated, thorn-like stipule. The leaves are long and lance-shaped, with rough margins and often with yellow mottling in the summer due to
Latin Name: Galium Parisiense
Common Name: Wall Bedstraw
Other Names: Bedstraw, cleaver, goosegrass, wall galium
Pest Details
Origin:
Native to the Mediterranean region.
Biology:
An annual broadleaf that occurs in moist areas, particularly where competitive vegetation is minimal. It infests vineyards, orchards, hillsides, stream banks, or landscape settings, especially where vegetation control has eliminated competition. Seeds germinate throughout the spring and plants mature into mid-summer.
Identification:
Mature plants are prostrate and spreading where no other plants are around them, but become almost vine-like and mat-forming over other plants nearby. In this way the stems may become very long. Stems are square and have recurved bristles on the ridges, giving them a very rough, sandpaper feel and allowing them to cling to plants as they climb. Leaves are arranged in a whorl around the stem, in groups of
Latin Name: Eichhornia Crassipes
Common Name: Water Hyacinth
Other Names: Pickerel-weed, floating water hyacinth
Pest Details
Origin:
Native to Latin America, and thought to have been introduced to the United States as an ornamental plant. Now present throughout the milder climates of the U.S., from Florida to California, where it can be a severe problem in navigable waterways and irrigation canals, where its thick, smothering growth obstructs movement and water flow.
Biology:
A floating perennial weed that usually reproduces vegetatively from stolons growing off the parent plant. New plants easily separate with disturbance or physical damage. Reproduction may also be from seeds that fall to the bottom of the aquatic habitat, and may remain there in a dormant state through dry periods, germinating once water is available again. Water hyacinth tends to grow mat-like, eventually covering the water completely over
Latin Name: Trifolium Repens
Common Name: White Clover
Other Names: Dutch clover, honeysuckle clover, white trefoil, purplewort
Pest Details
Origin:
Native to Europe, but introduced as an ornamental and forage plant, and now found commonly throughout North America. It is a weed in turf grasses and landscape, as well as in many crop settings. It tolerates close mowing and becomes a problem by outcompeting the turf.
Biology:
A perennial, mat-forming plant with creeping stems that root at the nodes. Reproduction is by seeds or by stolons, and the seeds are able to survive long periods prior to germination. Seeds begin to germinate in cool, moist conditions such as spring or early fall. Foliage dies back in cold winter weather, with re-growth from the roots and stolons.
Identification:
Mature plants may get over 6 inches high in ideal conditions where they are not mowed, but tend to grow prostrate along the ground.
Latin Name: Polygonum Convolvulus
Common Name: Wild Buckwheat
Other Names: Knot bindweed, bear bind, ivy bindweed, climbing bindweed, corn-bind, climbing buckwheat, black bindweed.
Pest Details
Origin:
Introduced from Europe, and now widespread throughout the United States and southern Canada.
Biology:
An annual broadleaf plant, growing as a fast-growing vine either along the ground or up onto other plants. Its dense growth and strangling habit can be harmful to other plants. A common weed in all kinds of crops, landscape gardens, and non-crop areas. Propagation is from seed, and germination is from mid-spring into early summer.
Identification:
Mature plants extend trailing stems up to 4 feet long. Stems are well branched, hairless, but covered with scales. Leaves are alternate on the stems and internodes are long. Leaves are on long stalks, arrow-head shaped, and may be up to 2.5 inches long.
Latin Name: Daucus Carota
Common Name: Wild Carrot
Other Names: Queen Anne’s lace, bird’s nest plant, devil’s plague.
Pest Details
Origin:
Native to Europe and introduced as a garden plant. It escaped cultivation and is now a common and problem weed throughout North America.
Biology:
A biennial that reproduces by seed. Seeds germinate in the spring to form a rosette of basal leaves the first year. In the second year long seed stalks arise from the rosette, branching frequently as they grow. Foliage dies by the second winter, but flower stalks remain standing. This plant is discouraged by annual cultivation of the soil, and is less of a problem in annual crops or landscape than in areas where the soil is not disturbed.
Identification:
Mature plants can be over 3 feet tall, and foliage and stems have a distinct carrot odor when crushed. Stems are erect, hollow, and with vertical raised ribs along them. Stems are