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Weeds
Latin Name: Lolium Multiflorum
Common Name: Italian Ryegrass
Other Names: Annual ryegrass, Australian ryegrass, ryegrass
Pest Details
Origin:
A native of Europe, and now widespread throughout the United States.
Biology:
Normally an annual grass weed, but under moderate climates it may behave as either a biennial or a short-lived perennial. This introduced grass is used to over-seed bermudagrass lawns in the winter, when Bermuda grass dies back and the ryegrass provides green turf until the bermuda re-grows. It also grows readily on any other soil condition, including in crops, roadsides, landscape, and in turf when not wanted. Seeds germinate through the spring and again from late summer into the fall.
Identification:
Mature plants grow as high as 3 feet, and plants tend to form clumps. The stems are reddish at the base, as are the sheaths at the base of leaves. Within the bud the leaf is rolled, distinguishing
Latin Name: Sorghum Halepense
Common Name: Johnsongrass
Other Names: Aleppo grass, Cuba grass, Egyptian millet, evergreen millet, false guineagrass, maidencane, meansgrass, St. Mary’s grass, syriagrass
Pest Details
Origin:
Native to the Mediterranean region, but deliberately introduced to the United States as a grass desirable for forage. Now widespread throughout the warm regions of the U.S. where it is a severe pest weed problem.
Biology:
A perennial grass weed that spreads either by seeds or by its underground rhizomes. It has become a problem in all crops, orchards, vineyards, ditch banks, roadsides, and other situations. While normally a good forage crop, under stress or drought conditions, or due to severe frost, it can form hydrocyanic acid which accumulates in the plant and then becomes toxic to grazing animals.
Identification:
Mature plants can be very tall and spreading – up to 8 feet tall with very
Latin Name: Echinochloa Colona
Common Name: Jungle Rice
Other Names: Small barnyard grass, water grass, finger grass
Pest Details
Origin:
Native to Europe, and now widespread throughout the west and southwest United States. Found commonly in both cultivated fields and in waste areas.
Biology:
A summer annual grass propagating from seed. Early growth may be somewhat prostrate, as leaves growing on the soil surface. Mature plant may remain low growing, but stems tend to turn upward, and when in competition with other plants the grass will grow upright to 3 feet tall. Stems that lay on the soil may root at the lower nodes.
Identification:
Mature plants grow to 3 feet tall, with stems bending upward at the lower nodes. Stems are flattened. Leaves are smooth and flat, about 1/4 inch wide and up to 6 inches long. Where they attach to the stem there is no ligule or auricle. Leaves often with purple bands
Latin Name: Pennisetum Clandestinum
Common Name: Kikuyugrass
Other Names: N/A
Pest Details
Origin:
Native to tropical Africa, but introduced deliberately to California as a cover along slopes and ditch banks for erosion control. As a very fast growing grass it also has been used for a turfgrass, but it is capable of escaping and invading other grasses where it is objectionable.
Biology:
A perennial that grows very rapidly, and reproduces from seeds or by underground rhizomes, and also spreads quickly by its above-ground stolons, that easily root at the numerous nodes. Growth is particularly rapid in the warmest months when temperatures are above 70 degrees. Seeds are produced in late summer.
Identification:
The mature plant grows as a low mat, spreading by underground rhizomes and above ground stolons, with rooting taking place at the stolons. Short leaves are also produced at the nodes on the stolons, and they
Latin Name: Scleranthus Annuus
Common Name: Knawel
Other Names: German knotweed, German knotgrass
Pest Details
Origin:
Introduced from Europe, and found throughout the eastern half of the United States and Canada, as well as in California and the Pacific Northwest.
Biology:
An annual weed, preferring cooler climates, thus present in northern states in the summer and southern states in the winter. A common weed in turf and disturbed sites. Reproduction is from seeds.
Identification:
This is a prostrate, sprawling plant with many branches, forming a mat over the soil as it grows. Stems are thin and flexible. Leaves are very narrow, opposite, and growing close together at the ends of stems to form bunches. They are sharply pointed at the tip and tend to bend downward. The small, green, inconspicuous flowers have no petals, and grow in small clusters within the leaf axils.
Characteristicts Important
Latin Name: Kochia Scoparia
Common Name: Kochia
Other Names: Summer cypress, mock cypress, Mexican fireweed, red belvedere
Pest Details
Origin:
Native to Eurasia, this plant was introduced to North America and now is found in nearly every state, with the exception of the extreme southeast.
Biology:
An annual weed reproducing from seeds. It is a very common weed along roadsides, in cultivated fields, in pastures and fields, as well as any disturbed site. A number of its chemical ingredients can cause serious toxic problems in livestock when it is eaten.
Identification:
Under good growth conditions plants may grow to 6 feet in height. It is a bushy plant with many branches that grow erect or laterally. Most of the stems and branches are covered with soft hairs, and the branches may develop a reddish color as they mature late in the season. Leaves are small, narrow, and lance shaped and are alternate. The tiny flowers
Latin Name: Digitaria Sanguinalis
Common Name: Large Crabgrass
Other Names: Hairy crabgrass, crabgrass, summer grass
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, Large Crabgrass may be distinguished from Smooth Crabgrass by its larger, hairy 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
Latin Name: Soliva Pterosperma
Common Name: Lawn Burweed
Other Names: N/A
Pest Details
Origin:
Native to South America, and now found along the Pacific Coast states and along the southern states to North Carolina, as well as throughout Latin America and in Europe.
Biology:
A winter annual growing in a prostrate, spreading habit. Reproduction is from seeds
Identification:
Very similar to spurweed. Low growing and prostrate, and with numerous stems radiating outward from the central base. Leaves are opposite and twice divided into narrow lobes. The flowers are green, small, and inconspicuous, and clustered in the axils of the leaves. They produce seeds that are flat and armed with sharp spines that can be quite painful when stepped on. Seeds also tend to cling to clothing.
Characteristicts Important to Control:
Latin Name: Cardamine Oligosperma
Common Name: Little Bittercress
Other Names: Idaho bittercress, spring cress, little western bittercress, umbel bittercress
Pest Details
Origin:
Native to North America, and found most commonly in the western states, east to Montana and Colorado, but occurring sporadically in the north central to northeast states as well. Found also in western Canada north to Alaska.
Biology:
A cool weather or cool habitat annual weed, sometimes a biennial in warmer climates, that reproduces from seeds. Like most bittercress species seeds are propelled explosively from the pods when they ripen, and several generations of plants may occur in a single year. Plants are found in most habitats where there is cool, shaded soil.
Identification:
Mature plants are small and low-growing, with numerous branching stems that grow in a semi-erect or lateral habit, giving the plant a wide, spreading
Latin Name: Sisymbrium Irio
Common Name: London Rocket
Other Names: Desert mustard
Pest Details
Origin:
A native of Europe, now common throughout the western states.
Biology:
A winter annual that may also be found in the summer in cool, shaded locations. It prefers damp soils and is a problem in irrigated crops, along roadsides, and in irrigation ditches. Reproduction is from seeds that germinate in the late fall and winter.
Identification:
Mature plants can grow as high as 4 feet, but vary widely depending on the conditions they are growing in. Stems often are branched and may form a dense plant. Stems and leaves generally are without hairs. Leaves are as long as 8 inches and are deeply lobed, forming a number of leaflets on the leaf stalk. The terminal lobe is somewhat pointed. Flowers are typical yellow, in small clusters at the ends of the stems. Seed pods develop below the flower cluster, and may