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Weeds
- Latin Name: Alysicarpus Vaginalis
- Latin Family Name: Fabaceae
- Common Name: Alyce Clover
- Other Names: Oneleaf clover, white moneywort
Origin:
Native to the Old World tropics, but introduced to the U.S. and now found throughout the southeastern states north to Virginia, as well as in Hawaii and the West Indies.
Biology:
A perennial weed that reproduces from seed. Plants are prostrate and spreading, capable of forming thick mats over the soil. They may be found in any disturbed habitat and along roadsides, as well as in turf.
Identification:
Numerous stems form mats on the soil, or stems may be somewhat upright. The leaves are alternate and undivided, round to somewhat elongate, and on very short stalks. Flowers are very small and occur in racemes, and range from purple to pink to orange. The seed pods
- Latin Name: Poa Annua
- Latin Family Name: Poaceae
- Common Name: Annual Bluegrass
- Other Names: Poa, walkgrass, annual meadow grass
Origin:
Native to Europe, but one of the most widely distributed weed grasses in the United States. It thrives in turf, gardens, crops, roadsides, or any other open area.
Biology:
An annual grass, with seeds germinating from late summer, through the winter, and into the following spring. Plants mature from late spring to early summer. Grows well in turf, where it outgrows the desirable turf creating a light green discoloration with abundant seedhead production, and when it dies in the summer it leaves a brown area on the turf.
Identification:
Mature plants may be 1 foot tall and bright green. Reproduces only from seed, so stems grow from central point at the soil. Leaves are
- Latin Name: Sonchus Oleraceus
- Latin Family Name: Asteraceae
- Common Name: Annual Sowthistle
- Other Names: Common sow-thistle, hares lettuce, colewort, milk thistle, sow-thistle
Origin:
Native to Europe and found commonly throughout North America.
Biology:
An annual weed found in virtually any crop or non-crop setting, and a common weed pest in landscaped habitats. It favors cool, moist environments and will die back in hot weather, but may continue to germinate seeds in cool landscapes. Propagation is from seeds, and these have long, silky hairs that enable the wind to disperse them great distances from the parent plant. Germination begins in mid-winter to spring.
Identification:
Mature plants may grow to 6 feet tall, with 3 to 4 feet tall most common. Stems are wide, hollow, and usually with many branches.
- Latin Name: Paspalum Notatum
- Latin Family Name: Poaceae
- Common Name: Bahiagrass
- Other Names: Highway grass, common bahia, Pensacola bahia
Origin:
Native to South America, but now spread throughout all of Latin America, the West Indies, Hawaii, and the southeastern U.S.
Biology:
A warm season perennial that reproduces by both seeds and rhizomes. It grows quickly to form thick mats over the soil and is extremely invasive outside of landscaped areas, or areas of roadside or pasture where it may be planted as a low maintenance turf.
Identification:
Mature growth is mat-forming, with tall stems with terminal seed heads growing above the vegetation. Leaves are somewhat folded and generally smooth on both upper and lower surfaces. A short ligule is present at the base of the leaf, and the bases of the stems
- Latin Name: Echinochloa Spp.
- Latin Family Name: Poaceae
- Common Name: Barnyard Grass
- Other Names: Cocks foot panicum, cockspur grass, panic grass, water grass, summer grass, billion dollar grass, Japanese millet
Origin:
Native to Eurasia and Africa, and now occurring throughout North America. This grass will grow in virtually any situation, crop or non-crop, landscape and turf.
Biology:
An annual grass weed, with seeds germinating from early spring through autumn, and plants maturing from early summer into autumn.
Identification:
Mature plants may be as tall as 5 feet. Leaves are flat and wide, over ½ inch wide, and without a ligule or auricles at the base of the leaf. There may be a small tuft of hairs at the base, and the sheath around the stem is whitish. Seedhead is a coarsely branched panicle
- Latin Name: Momordica Charantia
- Latin Family Name: Cucurbitaceae
- Common Name: Balsam Apple
- Other Names: Balsam pear, peria, bitter melon, cerassee, goya, bitter apple, bitter gourd, bitter squash, karavila
Origin:
A native of Asia, this noxious, invasive vine is present in the United States in several eastern states including Florida, west along the Gulf Coast to Texas, and in Hawaii.
Biology:
Plants are vines which grow with twining tendrils, growing up through and over the tops of other plants. It is a common invader in landscapes. The seed pod is a large, yellow fruit that is cultivated as food in some areas, although the pods of the plant variety found in Hawaii, var. “pavel”, has a disagreeable flavor. This plant may be found in nearly any habitat, from moist to wet soils and from landscape to waste lots. Reproduction
- Latin Name: Cynodon Dactylon
- Latin Family Name: Poaceae
- Common Name: Bermudagrass
- Other Names: Devil grass, dogtooth grass, scutchgrass, vine grass, wire grass
Origin:
Native to Africa, but a common weed now around the world. Several hybrids are used as desirable turf.
Biology:
A perennial grass weed, that propagates from seeds, stolons, or rhizomes, and re-grows foliage each year from its extensive root system. Soil temperatures above 55 degrees trigger the start of new growth. Root systems may extend many feet underground, and over time the plant will overwhelm other turf. Stems can grown almost vinelike over the tops of landscape ornamental shrubs. Both the rhizomes (underground roots) and stolons (aboveground stems) can develop roots at the nodes, creating either aerial stems at that point, or entirely new plants. A highly
- Latin Name: Acer Negundo
- Latin Family Name: Sapindaceae
- Common Name: Box Elder
- Other Names: N/A
Origin:
Native to North America, and found from coast to coast.
Biology:
A perennial tree related to other maple trees, with growth as tall as 65 feet, often found in stream beds and low lying areas. Reproduction is from seeds, but extensive sprouting can occur from the shallow roots, creating problems in landscape. Extensive growth of seedlings also can be a nuisance. The troublesome Boxelder Bug is commonly associated with this tree as well, leading further to the problems from the presence of this tree in urban areas.
Identification:
Leaves are pinnately compound, divided into 3 to 5 large leaflets, with one a terminal leaflet. The shape of each leaflet varies from lanceolate to oblong, their margins from
- Latin Name: Medicago Lupulina
- Latin Family Name: Fabaceae
- Common Name: Black Medic
- Other Names: Trefoil, black clover, none-such, hop medic, hop clover
Origin:
Native to eastern Europe and Asia, but now found throughout the United States.
Biology:
Usually a summer annual, but occasionally a biennial or a winter annual. Propagation is by seed, and seeds germinate in either fall or early spring.
Identification:
A low-growing, trailing plant with stems that may reach over 2 feet in length. A taproot is present. Stems are somewhat square and radiate out from the base, but do not root at the nodes as clovers do. Leaves are divided into 3 leaflets on a short petiole. Leaflets are round and have toothed margins. Flowers are present throughout the late spring and summer, and the flower head is a small, compact
- Latin Name: Rumex Obtusifolius
- Latin Family Name: Polygonaceae
- Common Name: Broadleaf Dock
- Other Names: Bitter dock, bluntleaf dock, dock leaf, dockens, butter dock
Origin:
Native to Europe and Asia. Now widespread in the United States.
Biology:
Perennial with a deep taproot, capable of growing and producing seeds year-round with adequate moisture. Seeds mature at various rates throughout growing season, and thus drop sporadically and may germinate at any time of the year if moisture is adequate.
Identification:
Mature plants up to 5 feet tall, with most of the height created by the enormous inflorescence and seed production – up to 40,000 seeds possible from one plant. Stems are erect and stiff, often slightly reddish. Leaves are mostly basal as a rosette around the base, with some on the stems,