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Weeds
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
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