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University of Florida Master Gardener

Liza Ryan

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COMMON WEED IDENTIFICATION

CLASSIFICATION

Broadleaf/Sedge/Grass Summer/Winter Lifecycle

CONTROL/MANAGEMENT

IDENTIFICATION

Common
Beneficial

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Self-recruiting Garden Guest

Cultural: weeds are undesired plants growing where they are not wanted

An entire plant species cannot be classified as a weed. Context is needed. A native plant growing in the woods has ecological benefits to that ecosystem. That same plant species can be classified as a weed if you do not wish them to grow in your flowerbed.

Ecologically: weeds are naturally dispersed plants that grow where their needs are met; as such they are self-recruiting species

Removing these self-recruiting species requires time, effort and money and may not be necessary; native species can increase the biodiversity, a key contributor to (urban) wildlife habitat; providing food, shelter, and space for reproduction

Weeds need sunlight, water, nutrients, space…and will out/compete our chosen garden plants

The word weed has negative connotations as in” uninvited guest”. But today, we will present the ecological benefits of some common self-recruiting native species, and whether they truly need to be controlled

Allowing for the presence of beneficial plant species that do not detract from the function of a lawn or garden can help mitigate environmental impacts by reducing the need for pesticides, fertilizer, and irrigation

Overall, weeds are a tremendous and costly problem for home gardens, the nursery trade, and agriculture

ID of weed species, and their life cycles, will have a great impact on the selection and success of control measures

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Classification: True Grass Weeds

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Sedges

SEDGES: NOT true grasses, but are grass-like weeds

Characterized by a solid, triangular-shaped stem with dark green, shiny leaves extending in three directions and are usually referred to as NUTGRASS

Generally, the flower is on a stalk that originates from the center of the plant

Examples: Yellow and Purple Nutsedge

YELLOW NUTSEDGE: a rapidly spreading perennial with three-ranked basal leaves. The leaves are flat or slightly corrugated and are usually as long as or longer than the flowering stem which has a long, attenuated tip. The seedhead is yellow-brown or straw colored and is formed at the end of triangular stems. The tubers are round and are lacking hairs. They are formed at the ends of whitish rhizomes which do not form chains of tubers. The tubers are slightly sweet to taste. Yellow reproduces primarily by tubers.

*Yellow seed head

*Nutsedge can and will grow through most mulches

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Broadleaf

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Annual, biannual, Perennial

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Annual, biannual (Biennial), Perennial

Biannual: completes its life cycle in two growing seasons; the first year the plant grows leaves and roots, often forming a rosette; The second year it begins to reproduce by producing flowers and sets seed before it completes its life cycle

BIENNIAL: 2-year life cycle; germinate from seed in the fall, develop large root systems and compact cluster of leaves during first year. The second year they mature, produce seed, and die

Examples: cudweed, Carolina false dandelion, wild carrot, butt thistle

7-9 species of thistle in Florida, at least two are Florida native species, the purple thistle and the yellow thistle; Cirsium horridulum

4K seeds produced; seeds are rich in oil which is an important food source for birds; larval host plant, nectar source, beetles eat the flowers, native bees use for nesting material

Control in rosette stage and before flowering

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Annual, biannual, Perennial

Perennial Weeds: live more than two years to complete their life cycle.

Many have specialized stems such as stolons, rhizomes, bulbs, or corms, where energy is stored.

Reproduce by vegetative parts such as tubers, bulbs, rhizomes (underground stems) or stolons (above-ground stems). Some also produce seed.

Creeping perennials use rhizomes or modified stems that grow below the soil surface, or stolons that grow above the soil surface, to creep and reproduce.

During winter season, most survive in a dormant state, and many lose their above ground foliage and stems. With the beginning of spring, they regenerate from food reserves in their root systems

Examples: Torpedograss, yellow nutsedge, Florida Betony, Wild garlic, and Bermuda grass

PURPLE NUTSEDGE: rapidly spreading perennial with three-ranked basal leaves. Leaves are flat or slightly corrugated and are usually shorter than the flowering stem which abruptly tapers at the tip. The seedhead is purple to reddish-brown and is formed at the end of a triangular stem. Tubers are oblong and are covered with hairs. They are found in chains connected by brown, wiry rhizomes. Tubers are bitter to taste. Purple nutsedge reproduces primarily by tubers.

*Seedhead is purple to reddish brown and is on the end of a triangular stem

*Nutsedge can and will grow through most mulches

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Summer weeds Winter weeds

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*

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winter weeds summer weeds

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Weed Management/Control

Consider the ways weed seed enters the garden and is distribute via wind, water, machinery

*Eliminate sources of weed seed; Weeds can harbor insects, diseases, and viruses

*Clean equipment

*Mulches act as a barrier to the growth of many weeds.

Prevent weeds from growing in the first place.

Prevent weed seeds from germinating with solarizing.

Begin treatments weeks in advance.

Soil Solarization: Uses the Sun’s energy to battle pests and diseases in your soil

A sheet of plastic is used to cover the soil surface for six to eight weeks, allowing the soil to reach temperatures that are lethal to many pests and weeds

The high temperatures needed to kill the unwanted soil occupants will also kill many beneficial organisms

Clear plastic is used so that sunlight is able to pass through it

The soil warms and the plastic traps the heat allowing the soil to reach temperatures that are lethal to many pests and weeds

Best used in areas that receive full sunlight during the day as any shade will hinder the process

June, July, August are the best months to solarize since temperatures are highest

Begin: clear the area of weeds and debris and incorporate soil amendments.

You can till into the top six inches of soil to help increase heat penetration, if desired; not necessary

Rake the soil smooth, making sure the space “crowns” in the center so that rainwater won’t collect on the plastic and cool the soil

Moist soil is best because moisture helps to conduct heat; apply the plastic the day after a rain or irrigation

Solarization will not work as well on very dry soil or very wet soil

Heavy, muddy soil can get the plastic dirty which will disrupt the process

*Clear plastic allows for best penetration of sunlight

The plastic sheet should be a little larger than the area you are treating

Plastic should be strong enough to last for 6 weeks in the summer sun without breaking up

Stretch the plastic tightly over the prepared area you are treating and seal the edges by completely burying them in the soil

Make sure they stay buried for at least six weeks

Solarization is not working if weeds continue to grow in the area under the plastic

If holes develop, a piece of duct tape can be used to seal the area without blocking enough sunlight to hurt the solarization process

If successful, you will have a reduction in weeds and soil pests for the next three to four months

MULCH: obstructs light making it difficult for weeds to develop

Pine bark, pine straw, melaleuca, mixed hardwood, stones

Apply two inches thick

Keep several inches away from plant bases

Apply water and fertilizer on top of mulch

WEEDING: Mechanical Removal; check your landscape frequently for weeds to hand pull or hoe

HOE: “Shallow Cultivation” with a hoe or scuffle hoe will decapitate and control some weeds if they don’t have root systems that allow them to regenerate

Some plants leave roots, tubers, or other plant parts in the ground that allow the plants to regrow

HAND PULL: It is easier to remove young weeds because their roots are not as extensive and removing them is less likely to disturb your plants

As your plants get larger, they will shade more soil, helping to reduce the number of weeds that germinate, and the amount of maintenance needed

Most environmentally friendly and cost effective; Remove entire root system; Use a “weeder” tool to loosen the roots from the ground

LAST RESORT: Herbicide: chemicals applied to weeds to prevent or kill them; apply per instructions on the label;

TIMING *When weed seeds can be controlled

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Herbicide types

Selective VS Non-Selective

Contact VS Systemic

Classified depending how they are applied and their mode of action in or on the plant

Generally applied either to soil or to foliage

Selective or Non-selective, and may be either contact or translocated through the plant

*Weed identification is essential for selecting the correct control methods and herbicides

SELECTIVE: Control only certain types of weeds without seriously affecting other plant species

Example: Some control only broadleaf weeds; they do not seriously harm grasses; turf applications

NONSELECTIVE: Control ALL plant species they are applied to

CONTACT: only affect the portions of the plant tissues they touch and do not move through the plant’s vascular system; will not kill root systems or underground plant parts

SYSTEMIC: move through the plant’s vascular system, which means they will enter the root and stem systems; will kill the plant over several days

Dollarweed is a moisture loving warm season, FLORIDA NATIVE, perennial weed; silver-dollar shaped leaves-round with a scalloped edge; bright green, fleshy leaves sticking up from the lawn or garden surface; “miniature lily pads measuring 1-2 inches in diameter

Indicator of excess moisture; low-lying areas, or soils with hard clay pan that drain slowly, Or in well drained sandy soils that are over irrigated; Ponds & lakes; can even float on water

Low growing habit spreads by rhizomes, seeds, and tubers; all three must be removed if weeding by hand

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Herbicides based on timing

Pre-emergence

Post-emergence

PREEMERGENT: prevent root or shoot development from the newly emerging plant. Product has to be in place before the seed germinates! So, it is important to understand weed life cycles

[Usually requires watering after application to form a barrier at the soil surface; If the barrier is disturbed, the herbicide is less likely to be effective]

Use with caution in areas where seed will be used, in beds or turf, for two to four months after application

POSTEMERGENCE: work on ACTIVELY GROWING weeds; plant should be young and vegetative for the herbicide to be most effective; the more mature the plant is, the higher the rate of product will be needed; if plants are under drought or cold stress, are producing seeds, or are mowed before the product has time to work (several days) it is likely to be less effective; therefore, best to apply during warm temperatures; and when adequate soil moisture is present

Spreading Dayflower

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Weed identification: grass

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Crabgrass (Digitaria ciliaris)

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If you find yourself with brown lawn areas that you swear were green turf you may have crabgrass in your turf. Plants have thick blades 1-2 inches long; seedheads have 2-6 fingerlike spiked branches; germinates in early spring

There are 5 species of crabgrass in south Florida; some annual, some perennial

Challenging to manage because herbicides will also affect turf grasses

Crabgrass summer annual grass; 5 common species;

Leaf blades vary in size from 1 inch to over 2 inches long; Leaf blades and sheaths may be hairy and smooth; with prominent midvein

Sandy soils

Spread: primarily by seed but also vegetatively; roots along the nodes as it grows along the ground; Seedheads are on long stalks that have one or two whorls of spiklets at the end

SMOOTH CRABGRASS: Tufted or prostrate spreading summer annual. Leaves are smooth on both surfaces. Leaf sheath is smooth with a few long hairs at the collar.

Visible membranous ligules at base of the leaf blade. Reproduces by seed and the seedhead has two to six ”finger-like” branches.

*Smooth leaf with a few hairs at the collar

ID: Look at seedheads:

LARGE CRABGRASS: tufted or prostrate to spreading summer annual with branched stems that root at the nodes. The leaf blade is longer than 2 inches and is usually hairy on both surfaces. There are visible toothed membranous ligules at the base of the leaf. The leaf sheath has dense hairs. There are spikelets in two to nine finger-like branches

*Hairy leaf with blades longer than 2 inches.

Seed head is all coming out from one central point; often has hairs along the stems

Signalweed: summer annual grass; Seed heads come out at right angles from the stem at maturity

giving it it’s common name “digit grass”

Clump grass; up to 2 feet tall

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Torpedograss! Panicum repens

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Category I invasive by the Florida Invasive Species Council (FISC): it alters native plant communities through its impacts

Perennial (living two or more years); found in aquatic habitats and any and all places

Can grow up to 40 inches tall from creeping rhizomes (underground stems that form lateral shoots and roots) and stolons (aboveground stems that creep across the ground or float in aquatic environments.

Produces seeds with little to no viability; Spreads primarily by rhizomes and stem fragments, which can form new plants; new buds are produced along the entire length of the rhizome, which form into aerial stems: rigid and erect; the stem’s base is wrapped with bladeless overlapping sheaths; Leaf sheaths are hairy with thin and dry margins; Leaf blades are stiff, linear, flat, or folded with a waxy or whitish surface and 10 inches long; Leaf blades are 0.1 inch wide when flat and 0.2 inch wide folded; leaves are stiff and rigid, flat, or rolled and spreading

The name originates from its rhizomes which are rigid with sharp-pointed, torpedo-like growing tips

Prefers to grow in warm to hot climates in sandy soils with abundant moisture and full sun

A creeping perennial that has sharply-pointed, spreading rhizomes that are white in color; the leaf blades are sparsely hairy on the top and have pointy tips; the stems can grow 4 to 5 feet tall; Seed heads may be present although often not viable in Florida; the plant propagates mainly by rhizomes

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Weed identification: sedges

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Sedges:�yellow Nutsedge, �purple Nutsedge!

All Sedges: Stem structure is often solid and triangular; roll the stem through fingers to feel the edges; Sedges have dark green, shiny leaves; Flower generally on a stalk that originates from the center of the plant

Purple: (Cyperus rotundus); perennial; large whiteish-to-purple leaves with a triangular stem; listed as invasive!

Produces underground runners (rhizomes) that form tubers connecting the plants in chains

Seedhead: purple-reddish with 5-12 leaves coming out of the base of the seedhead

Flowers are oblong with small spikes on stalks

*Tip of leaf is boat-shaped

Purple nutsedge: perennial with underground runners that continue from tuber to tuber, forming chains; seedhead is purple or reddish; boat-shaped leaf tip

YELLOW NUTSEDGE; (Cyperus esculentus); upright perennial; triangular stem and bright leaves; underground runners that stop/end at tubers; Underground runners do not connect plants; Flowers are yellow to brown in color and form at the end of a stiff stalk; Leaf blade progressively narrows toward the tip; needle shaped; leaves usually longer than flower stalks

Globe Sedge (Cyperus croceus): perennial; clumping; shiny leaves, hard base; globe shaped seed heads; most common, most problematic

Annual Sedge (Cyperus compressus): spreads by seed; seed forms in clusters of flat, greenish, sometimes glossy spikes up to 1 inch long

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Sedge: kyllinga (Cyperus brevifolia)

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Weed identification: broadleaf

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Artillery Weed Pilea microphylla

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*Spanish Needles, Beggar’s tick, �Bidens Alba

Florida native: *pollinator plant, BUTTERFLY HOST; summer annual; 3’ x 3’; Blooms Mar-Oct or most/all year; wide range of habitats; reseeds profusely; visited by a range of pollinators and butterflies even though the flowers are self pollinating; *larval host of Dainty Sulphur butterfly, (Nathalis iole); nuisance due to habit of seeds attached to fur and clothing; seeds are a two “toothed” barb that readily attaches

3 inches of mulch prevents most seed germination

Annual or short-lived perennial; There are eight species of Bidens in Florida, two are most common: B alba and B Pilosa. Pilosa flowers usually have no petals; occur in many different habitats, moist to dry, but mostly in moderately dry, full sun

Upright annual to perennial herbs growing up to 36 inches in height

Inflorescence: grouped in terminal heads on the ends of the stems; each flower head has 4-5 long and broad white petals surrounding many tubular yellow disc florets; flower year around; Spanish needles are self pollinating, although they still attract pollinators

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Spreading dayflower Commelina diffusa

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Doveweed�Murdannia nudiflora

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*Spurge�Euphorbia species

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Summer broadleaf annual

*All spurges spread only by seed

ALL SPURGES: broadleaf, opposite leaves, reddish stems arise from central taproot and are covered with yellowish to dark brown hairs, milky latex white sap within stems and leaves; stem covered yellow to dark brown hairs;* spread only by seeds

Therefore, pre-emergent herbicide; mulch

Favors sandy soils; Wet or Dry; Spurge is native to Florida and are pollinator favorite flowers

*Sap is toxic to livestock; medicinal

Three common spurge species:

Spotted spurge: prostate; flowers within leaf clusters; each flower produces two seeds; 8-10 weeks from germination to maturity; differentiate from garden by: leaves are much rounder in shape and usually about half their size

Garden spurge: Euphorbia hirta; prostate

Hyssop spurge: upright growth; develops fairly woody base

Spurge can be found growing in any warm, sunny location; even dense shade

Problem in agriculture and nursery, lawn and landscaping beds

Prevention: 2-3 inches of mulch because seeds require light to germinate; easily hand weeded at tap root

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Old world diamond flower�oldenlandia corymbosa

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*dollarweed Hydrocotyle species

Or Pennywort, is a perennial broadleaf weed; Several species in Florida;

*Reproduces mainly from underground rhizomes and sometimes from seed and tubers

Bright, SHINY, flat, round leaf with scalloped edges; Petiole is attached to the bottom of the leaf toward the center, not on the edge, which makes it distinguishable from dichondra; dollarweed is an aquatic species and grows in wet environments around lakes, ponds, and in clay soils that drain poorly;

Each flower consists of lots of small, 5 petaled white flowers that form one large umbrella-shaped flower (umbel) on the end of a flower stalk

Broadleaf, Perennial, creeping growth habit

Prefers wet conditions; It is low to the ground with one round leaf per stalk; leaves grow to the size of a silver dollar, hence the name; looks similar to a lily pad;

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Florida Pusley Richardia scabra

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Summer broadleaf annual that has loosely branching; round, hairy stems that do not root; growth habit is erect to prostrate; Large dominant taproot and fibrous roots branching off taproot

Leaves are opposite and oval shaped, and can range from smooth with hairs on the edge to rough on both sides

The flowers are small, white, star-shaped, and form in clusters at the end of the bud; Flower parts are in groups of six; flowers are funnel-shaped and can be found on plants year around

*Spread: primarily by SEED

Four species of occur in Florida; Florida Plant Atlas classifies all four as introduced VS USDA Plant database classifies R. scabra and R. brasiliensis as native;

USDA lists naturalized plants as native; ALSO iNaturalist. If the plant has been here long enough to become established within the ecosystem, even though it is introduced

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Florida pusley

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Chamberbitter Phyllanthus urinaria�Phyllanthus tenellus

Two NON-Native, Broadleaf, Warm season Florida weeds; tolerates mowing;

Chamberbitter is Phyllanthus urinaria; Phyllanthus tenellus is “long stalked chamberbitter”. Both species have mimosa-like leaves and characteristic seed pods; Leaves are compound with rounded leaflets on a long stem like plant part called an axil. The flowers are small and inconspicuous and distributed evenly along the axil; The plants produce flowers quickly and fruits thereafter; fruits explode to scatter the seeds far and wide.

Gripeweed is the shorter, more compact chamberbitter, Phyllanthus urinaria; rarely grows above 12 inches tall; fruits are hidden below crowded leaflets

Long-stalked chamberbitter, Phyllanthus tenellus, grows up to 2 feet tall; In home landscapes it is usually under 12 inches tall, but the stem is still much longer and less branched than short stemmed chamberbitter; the leaflets of long-stalked chamberbitter are less crowded than those of its shorter cousin

The flowers and fruits grow on short stems called pedicels

Grow best in moist conditions

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Beneficial Weeds

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Beneficial weeds

Bidens alba Creeping Wood Sorrel (Oxalis corniculate) Carolina Wild Petunia
Florida pellitory Bristle Basket-grass Spiderwort
Pepper-weed Lyre-Leaf Sage Florida Betony
Cudweed Common Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) Frog Fruit
Carolina Pony’s Foot Dollar-weed, Pennywort Blue-Eyed Grass
Sunshine mimosa Cut-leaf Evening Primrose (Oenothera laciniata) Carolina geranium

Bidens alba; beneficial; year around blooms for pollinators

Bidens alba flowers.�Credit: Annette Chandler, UF/IFASSpanish Needles (Bidens alba ) is commonly known as a plant pest, but is often used as a wildflower to attract bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, beetles and other pollinators by ecologists, horticulturalists and conservationists throughout Florida. In Florida, it is the third most common source of nectar for honeybees.

Butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa ) is a native milkweed. It is a larval food plant of monarch and queen butterflies. The flower nectar attracts honeybees, wasps, butterflies like fritillaries, swallowtails, and the monarch. Butterfly weed flower is also known to attract hummingbirds.

Blanketflower (Gaillardia pulchella ) is a native wildflower that blooms year around in Florida. While blanketflower is seen as a weed due to its prolific reseeding, it is an excellent nectar plant for butterflies and other pollinators.

Wildflowers at MRECTickseed (Coreopsis sp.) is a common wildflower in Florida that ranges from roadside, open fields to garden. Coreopsis is the Florida state wildflower, consists of 16 species, all native to Florida. Tickseed flowers are a steady, long blooming source of food for a diversity of pollinators.

Purple Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata ) is a beautiful native flowering vine. It is an aggressive grower and disliked by many gardeners. This plant is a larval food for the state butterfly of Florida, Zebra longwing butterfly.

Frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora ) is a plant that can be used as a groundcover. Due to its long flowering season, frogfruit is considered a dependable nectar source for butterflies. Frogfruit is a host plant for Common Buckeye, Phaon Crescent and White Peacock caterpillars.

Creeping woodsorrel (Oxalis corniculata ) is one of the weeds that has great potential to be a groundcover plant. The pollen and nectar of the flowers attract bees, the Cabbage white butterfly and provides seeds as food to birds and rabbits.

Native wild plants, often seen as weed are well adapted to local soil and climate. They require minimal irrigation, fertilizer, and care. They are a dependable and regular source of nectar and pollen for pollinators year-round. Incorporating native wildflowers in your garden or backyard will promote the biodiversity of your area. In addition, it will provide food and shelter for a diversity of wildlife.

Written by: Yuvraj Khamare & Caroline Warwick

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Resources

University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences IFAS.UFL.EDU
Mid-Florida Research and Education Center MREC.IFAS.UFL.EDU
Florida Native Plant Society fnps.org
Florida Wildflower Foundation FlaWildflowers.org

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Weed identification: Cool Season

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Asiatic false hawksbeard Youngia japonica

Cool season annual; but also, year around, especially late fall, winter, spring; may die off in summer;

Leaf is a basal rosette; spatula shaped leaves arise from a central point

ID: long flower stalks and then yellow flowers at the end of the stalks

NON-NATIVE; blooms all year, wet to dry

Leaves emit a white milky sap when crushed or torn;

Prefers moist conditions; highly adaptable;

Common, annual broadleaf weed; solitary, erect growth habit, and usually grows 6-15 inches in height; leaves and stem expel a milky sap if damaged; seedlings grow in a rosette emerging from a central point at the soil line;

Root: thickened vertical tap root

Flower: can bloom year around in Florida; golden-yellow ray petals

Seedlings: hairy, linear-shaped upper leaves at maturity

An annual, herbaceous plant that can rapidly spread due to its abundantly produced and easily dispersed seeds;

Flowers are self pollinating (do not require an external pollinator) with both male and female reproductive structures maturing concurrently

Flowering and seed dispersal occur year around, followed by germination and establishment

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*Wood sorrel family oxalidaceae �Genus: Oxalis

Common names: Yellow wood sorrel, yellow oxalis, shamrock, lucky clover

Moist to Dry

Creeping herbaceous perennial

Cool Season (Spring and Fall) perennial that persists year around in warmer climates

Full Sun/Part Sun

Matts from rhizomes and adventitious roots

Believed to be native to North America

Usually erect and branching, but may grow more prostrate; often forms dense mats from rhizomes

Roots: Tap-rooted; rhizomes form secondary fibrous root structure

Inflorescence: three flower stalks branch from a single main stalk, which arises from the leaf axils; flowers are yellow; 5 petals; spring through fall

Fruit and Seeds: capsule fruit, resembling the shape of okra pods, contain five ridges and are 0.5 inches in length; Fruit produced spring-fall; mature seed capsules explosively dehisce (expel) when touched or mature

Grows throughout the year in Florida; prefers moist soil but can grow in dry areas and a variety of soil types

Persistence due to prolific seed production; single plant produces up to 5K seeds in a year; explosively dehiscent capsules up to 16 feet from parent and germinate quickly; new seed close to 100% germination; seeds require light to germinate and most germination occurs within a temperature range of 50-84 F; seeds produced during warmer months have a broader germination temperature range than seed produced during cooler months

Vegetative reproduction is prevalent in established populations from axillary buds at nodes located on rhizomes

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Pink woodsorrel Oxalis debilis

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*Carolina geranium Geranium carolinianum

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?Florida betony (Sachys floridana)

Broadleaf perennial with upright growth habit; plant produces fleshy tubers; Erect and densely growing; up to height of 24 inches; mature plants have purplish stems; stems are pubescent (hairy); leaves are opposite and up to 2 inches long; lance shaped with a toothed margin; Produces rhizomes and pale-white segmented tubers; both are free branching and break easily and small root fragments can regrow; flowers emerge in clusters of 3 to 6 from the upper leaf axil; the petals are fused and have 2 lips (bilabiate), which are pink to white with purple spots; Fruits are composed of 4 nutlets with single-seeded parts that split at maturity (Schizocarp).

Florida native! There is NOT 100% consensus on whether this plant is native to Florida; The Underground stems form whitish tubers that are segmented and resemble a rattlesnake’s rattle, giving this plant its other common name, rattlesnake weed

Plants are connected by thin, white underground runners where the tubers are produced

The plant has upright, square (mint family) stems with toothed, opposite leaves

Flowers are white to pink in color and form seeds that have four nutlets

Tolerates wide range of growing conditions: sun, shade, wet, dry…

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Weed identification: Nancy McClelland

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*Common Fanpetals Sida ulmifolia

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Prostrate Globe Amaranth (Gomphrena serrata)

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Goatweed �Scoparia dulcis