It can be identified by its arching branches, glossy, spear-shaped leaves, and tubular, greenish-white to cream flowers. 

Night-Blooming Jasmine Classification

• Domain: Eukaryota
• Kingdom: Plantae
• Phylum: Tracheophyta
• Subphylum: Angiospermae
• Class: Dicotyledonae
• Order: Solanales
• Family: Solanaceae
• Genus: Cestrum
• Species: Cestrum nocturnum
• Common Names: Lady of the Night, Queen of the Night, Night-Scented Cestrum, White Cestrum, Night-Flowering Cestrum, Evening-Scented Jessamine, Night Jessamine, and Poisonberry

Nativity and Distribution

Night-Blooming Jasmine is native to Central America, including Belize, Mexico, Panama, Cuba, Costa Rica, and Ecuador. 

Today, it has been naturalized in tropical and subtropical regions globally including, southern United States, South Africa, Australia, Oceania, Southern China, and in Pacific islands like Guam, Fiji, Tahiti, and Samoa.

Physical Characteristics

• Leaves: Glossy, oval to lanceolate, 6-20 x 2-7 cm
• Fruits: Globose, white berry, 8-12 mm wide
• Stems: Arching or twining with sparse hairs
• Flowers: Tubular, greenish, pale yellow, or white flowers, with five acute lobes
• Roots: Tap root system

C. nocturnum is an evergreen woody shrub in the potato family, Solanaceae, that grows up to 4-5m tall.  

It can be identified by its arching or twinning branches, glossy, spear-shaped leaves, and tubular, greenish white to cream flowers.

Stems are arching or twining, with the younger twigs exhibiting sparse fine hairs. 

The leaves are simple, oval to lanceolate, mostly described as spear-headed, 6-20 x 2-7 cm, with entire margins. They are smooth, glossy, and hairy on the midrib and the underside, borne on stalks 0.5-2 cm long. 

The tubular flowers, 2.5 cm long, are greenish, pale yellow, or white, with five acute lobes (10-13 mm) that occur at the end of the branches. They open up at night and produce a strong, sweet scent that can become overwhelming indoors. Flowering occurs in spring and summer.

The seed is brown, 4-5 mm long and 2-2.5 mm wide. 

Reproduction, Dispersal, and Life Cycle

• Life Cycle: Perennial 
• Seeds: It’s a prolific seed producer
• Climate: Thrives best in tropical and subtropical climates
• Dispersal: Animals, water, and humans

Lady of the Night behaves as a perennial, thriving in tropical and subtropical climates. It mainly reproduces by seed but can also regrow from stem and root fragments. 

Each plant can produce thousands of seeds per year. They are mainly dispersed by animals and birds, making seedling growth more common under trees. However, the seeds can also be dispersed by floodwaters and humans, especially as part of garden waste. 

The seeds can remain dormant in the soil for many years.

Cestrum nocturnum thrives in moist, well-draining soils and prefers full sun to part shade. Therefore, it is a common weed of moist forests, open forests, forest margins, open areas, stream sides, shrublands, gardens, parks,  and coastal areas.

Similar Plants

• Cestrum elegans
• Cestrum aurantiacum
• Cestrum parqui

Uses

1. It is grown as an indoor plant for its dense foliage and strong fragrance.
2. It is used as a border plant, hedge, or screen. 

Impact on Farms and Environment

Night-Blooming Jasmine may be a beloved houseplant, but outside a controlled environment, it is a serious weed in various forest ecosystems. It forms dense, impenetrable thickets that negatively impact the growth of native flora, causing drastic environmental changes. 

In New Zealand, the plant has invaded forest understories, forest margins, and shrublands. In some Pacific Islands, Night-Blooming Jasmine has formed dense thickets, limiting native plant growth and movement.

Weed management in pastures and bush reserves can be costly, especially once it’s established. 

Additionally, the plant is highly toxic to livestock and can cause illness or death. Parts of C. nocturnum, like the fruits, are also toxic to humans, causing symptoms such as fever and excess salivation. 

People with asthma or respiratory problems also suffer headaches, difficulty breathing, nausea, and other irritations when exposed to the plant’s strong scent. 

Control

• Mechanical control: Hand-pulling young plants and rapid land reclamation
• Chemical control: Applying a herbicide like glyphosate

Cestrum nocturnum control can be achieved through mechanical and chemical strategies. 

Hand-pulling seedlings and young plants is the best strategy to prevent further growth and spread. 

More mature plants require deep cutting as they are woody and proper disposal to prevent regrowth. Once the site is cleared, the land should be replanted immediately. 

Cutting the foliage and spot-treating the remaining stem parts is another alternative that can offer effective control.

Sylvia Kiragu

Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.

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It is identified by its sparsely prickled stems, bipinnate leaves, and pink to lavender pompom-shaped flowers made up of thin petal strands. 

Touch-Me-Not Plant Classification

• Domain: Eukaryota
• Kingdom: Plantae
• Phylum: Tracheophyta
• Subphylum: Angiospermae
• Class: Dicotyledonae
• Order: Fabales
• Family: Fabaceae
• Genus: Mimosa
• Species: Mimosa pudica
• Common Names: Humble Plant, Shameful Plant, Touch-and-Die, Live-and-Die, Sensible Plant, Action Plant, Sleepy Plant, and Sleepy Grass

Nativity and Distribution

Shameplant is native to Central and South America. Today, Mimosa pudica can be found in Australia, Micronesia, Asia, Africa, and the southern United States. 

Physical Characteristics

• Leaves: Alternate, bipinnate with sensitive subdigitate pinnae
• Fruits: Clustered pods 1-2 cm long with bristled margins
• Stems: Slender, trailing or creeping, and can grow to 1m long
• Flowers: Globose to ovoid, pink to lavender in colour, and about 8-10 mm
• Roots: Tap root system

Shameplant is a creeping or sprawling herbaceous plant or sub-shrub from the legume family that typically grows to 50 cm and up to 100 cm if supported by other vegetation. 

You can identify it by its prickled stems, bipinnate leaves, and pink pompom-shaped flowers made up of thin petal strands.

The stems are erect in seedlings but creep or trail as the plant matures. They are typically slender, branching, and have sparse prickles, about 2-2.5 mm long.

Mimosa pudica leaves are alternate, bipinnately compound, 1-5.5 cm long, with 5 oblong-shaped pinnae. Each pinna has 10-26 pairs of linear-oblong leaflets about 6-15 x 1-3 mm wide. 

The leaves are extremely sensitive to stimuli. If slightly touched, blown, or shaken, the pinnae folds inwards and opens up later. The foliage also closes up at night and re-opens in the morning. 

The inflorescence is pompom-shaped pink or lilac flowers held on stalk heads, 1 x 0.6-1 cm. A cluster borne on the leaf axil can bear 1-8 flower heads. The corolla is 2 mm long and contains four stamens. Touch-Me-Not flowers all year round.

The seed is pale brown, bristled, and 2.5 mm long.  

Reproduction, Dispersal, and Life Cycle

• Life Cycle: Annual or long-lived perennial 
• Seeds: A single plant can produce 700 seeds
• Climate: Thrives best in tropical and subtropical climates
• Dispersal: Animals and humans

Touch-Me-Not behaves as an annual or long-lived perennial depending on the prevailing environmental conditions. It reproduces by seeds. A single plant can produce 700 seeds. 

The seeds are bristled, a feature that enables them to attach to bird feathers, animal fur, and human clothing for dispersal. 

It grows in a range of soils, including low-nutrient and shallow soils. M.pudica prefers sunny areas but can also thrive in shade, in areas with high humidity and strong winds. It is intolerant of extreme shade and frost. 

It is a common weed of pastures, hand-clutivated croplands, orchards, and plantations.

Similar Plants

• Mimosa pigra
• Mimosa diplotricha var. diplotricha

Uses

1. It is grown as an ornamental house plant and in pollination gardens.
2. The flowers are used to make distilled flower water.
3. The seed can be pressed for oil similar to soybean oil.
4. The roots are used as a traditional medicine for bilious fevers, piles, leprosy, jaundice, and piles.
5. Leaf tonics are used to remedy drunkenness.
6. It is planted as a cover crop in coconut plantations, green manure, and for soil erosion control.
7. It has been used for phytoremediation in arsenic-polluted soils. It can also extract other heavy metals like tin, zinc, lead, and copper from polluted soils. 

Impact on Farms and Environment

Mimosa pudica is a serious weed of crops like cotton, coffee, maize, coconuts, soybeans, and tomatoes. It particularly invades hand-cultivated fields. 

Additionally, the weed can cause significant changes to the soil it invades. For instance, increased levels of potassium and nitrogen have been observed in highly infested areas.

Dry weed thickets can be a huge fire hazard. While it is used as forage in some countries, some varieties have been found to be poisonous to livestock. 

Control

• Mechanical control: Handweeding or hoeing young plants
• Chemical control: Applying a postemergence herbicide like glyphosate

Handweeding and hoeing young plants can help remove small infestations, especially if done before they seed. Bigger plants have prickles that can cause injury, and hence, these methods may not be effective.

An application of a non-selective herbicide like glyphosate can help eradicate larger infestations. Ensure that you read the label first and follow all the instructions for effective control.

Sylvia Kiragu

Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.

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It is identified by its ovate leaves, fleshy, light-green stems that root at the nodes, and blue or lilac aerial flowers. 

Wandering Jew Classification

• Domain: Eukaryota
• Kingdom: Plantae
• Phylum: Tracheophyta
• Subphylum: Angiospermae
• Class: Monocotyledonae
• Order: Malpighiales
• Family: Commelinaceae
• Genus: Commelina
• Species: Commelina benghalensis
• Common Names: Hairy Wandering Jew, Benghal Dayflower, Indian Dayflower, Jio, and Tropical Spiderwort

Nativity and Distribution

Benghal Dayflower is native to the Arabian Peninsula and tropical continents of Africa and Asia. Today, it is widely distributed in other regions, including the southeastern United States, Hawaii, and the West Indies.  

Physical Characteristics

• Leaves: Ovate with entire margins and parallel leaf veins
• Fruits: Pear-shaped capsule 2.5 – 5 mm long
• Stems: Creeping, succulent, light-green stems
• Flowers: Funnel-shaped, blue or lilac flowers
• Roots: Fibrous root system

Commelina benghalensis is a perennial herb found in the spiderwort family. It has long, creeping or ascending stems that can grow 60-90 cm. 

You can identify it by its ovate leaves, fleshy, light-green stems that root at the nodes, and blue or lilac aerial flowers. 

Stems are long, round, succulent, covered with white hairs, and can grow 60-90 cm long. They often creep along the ground but can climb if supported.

The leaves are ovate to triangular, with entire margins and parallel veins. A distinct feature that sets this dayflower from other dayflowers is the presence of white or red hairs at the tip of the leaf sheaths. 

Wandering Jew produces open, funnel-shaped, aerial flowers with three petals, two blue or lilac in colour and the bottom petal is light blue or white. The underground flowers develop on the rhizomes and tend to remain closed.

As a dayflower, the aerial flower opens up in the morning and wilts in the afternoon. 

The plant produces aerial and underground seeds that are 2 mm long and 1.5mm wide, rectangular-shaped to ovoid, and brownish-black in colour, with a netted exterior. 

Reproduction, Dispersal, and Life Cycle

• Life Cycle: Perennial 
• Seeds: A single plant can produce 1,600 seeds
• Climate: Thrives best in tropical and subtropical climates
• Dispersal: Wind, birds, and humans

Benghal Dayflower behaves as a perennial but can grow as an annual in temperate climates. It can reproduce by seed. However, it is more efficient in propagating vegetatively through rooting at nodes of the stems and regrowing from stem fragments. 

The stem fragments, if cut, have the ability to survive brief drought stress and can resprout if they come into contact with wet soils. 

The seeds are mainly dispersed by wind, birds like doves, and humans, especially when harvesting the plant for medicinal purposes. 

While the plant may not produce many seeds, they have a high fertility rate.The underground seeds tend to have faster germination rates than their aerial counterparts. 

Wandering Jew prefers sandy loam soils but can adapt to diverse soil types. Additionally, the plant thrives in sunny areas but can also grow in shaded areas. Established plants can withstand prolonged drought. 

Similar Plants

• Commelina diffusa
• Commelina virginica

Uses

1. Young leaves and stems are cooked as a vegetable. The rhizomes are considered a wholesome food in India and Sudan.
2. In Asia, it is used as a medicinal herb to treat burns, indigestion, eye aliments, to counter infertility, and thrush in infants. A plant poultice is also used to treat sore feet. 
3. A pounded leaf solution is used to treat diarrhoea.
4. The flower sap is used to make dyes.
5. It is used as animal fodder in Asia and Africa. 

Impact on Farms and Environment

Commelina benghalensis is listed among the world’s worst weeds and has been declared a noxious weed in Australia and several southeastern states in the U.S. 

It can invade crop farms, affecting about 25 types of crops in over 20 countries globally. Some of the most affected crops include cotton, oranges, rice, cassava, peanuts, tea, and coffee.

Hairy Dayflower is also a common weed of other landscapes and nurseries. Due to its adaptability to diverse environments and prolific spread through nodding, the weed can quickly become a problematic weed. 

Established plants are especially difficult to eradicate due to their high herbicide resistance, leading to increased eradication costs and yield losses.

The weed also causes additional agriculture damage by hosting dangerous viruses like the Groundnut rosette and nematodes.

Control 

• Mechanical control: Hand removal and hoeing
• Cultural control: Low mowing and mulching
• Chemical control: Herbicides like indaziflam, flumioxazin, and glyphosate

Hand removal and hoeing are only viable for very small infestations. It’s important that all fragments of the plant are removed, including the underground flowers and root fragments. 

A 2-4 inch mulch or low-mowing can suppress weed establishment in early stages, but often proves tedious and largely ineffective due to its persistence and adaptability. 

Depending on your area of concern, you can apply preemergence herbicides like indaziflam or flumioxazin. Postemergence herbicides like glyphosate should be applied at the seedling stage for effective control.

Combining pre- and postemergence herbicides has also been proven to effectively control Commelina benghalensis. 

If you are unsure how to control this invasive weed in your landscape or farm, we recommend consulting a local extension expert.

Sylvia Kiragu

Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.

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These diverse terrains, warm temperatures, seasonal rains, and nutrient-rich soils shape both the bounty of the crops and the growth of native and invasive weeds. 

The weeds compete for space and other important nutrients, and in some cases, they can spread aggressively on farmlands and natural habitats. 

Here, we explore the 25 most common weeds in Zambia, describing where they thrive, their unique features, and the best methods to remove them. 

1. Purple Nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus)

• Local Name: Purple Nutsedge
• Family: Cyperaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Purple Nutsedge is a perennial weed that can grow up to 1m high. It is commonly found in maize and rice fields, and permanent or seasonally wet areas. 

You can identify the weed by its thick and stiff leaves arranged in sets of threes from the base. The spikelets (3-15) are reddish to purplish brown, slightly flattened, and arranged on dense clusters.

Removing the young plants before they develop tubers is the best strategy to reduce the sedge population. Aim to dig out the plants before they develop 5-6 leaves, and eventually the reserves will dry out. 

Increasing shade and improving irrigation practices to prevent unnecessary waterlogging conditions can also help control Purple Nutsedge. 

2. Blackjack (Bidens pilosa)

• Local Name: Nakasopyo, Sokotela, or Kanunka
• Family: Asteraceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual

Blackjack is an annual to short-lived perennial that can be found in gardens and potatoes, beans, and cotton fields. 

The upright herb has opposite leaves and distinct barbed seeds that cling to animal fur and human clothing.

While it is known to be a beneficial vegetable with numerous anti-inflammatory and skin benefits, Nakasopyo is also considered a pesky weed in Zambia.

Mechanical control methods like manual weeding when the plants are small, mulching, and intercropping are enough to eradicate the weeds. However, if you’re dealing with large infestations, simazine and glyphosate products can provide effective control.

3. Napier Grass (Cenchrus purpureus)

• Local Name: Napier Grass, Elephant Grass, Uganda Grass, or Senjele
• Family: Poaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Napier Grass is a perennial clumping grass that forms dense stands up to 4m tall. It is commonly grown as a forage, hay, and silage crop for feeding livestock. 

However, Elephant Grass can be invasive in irrigation systems, fallow lands, and riparian areas. Cutting and digging to remove the rhizomes, followed by glyphosate applications for regrowth, will remove the grass. 

4. Giant Salvinia (Salvinia molesta)

• Local Name: Kariba Weed 
• Family: Salviniaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

The weed is named after its common sighting in Lake Kariba along the Zambezi River. Salvinia molesta is a troublesome aquatic fern that forms dense mats on water surfaces. 

The mats block oxygen and sunlight, choking fish and other aquatic plants. Additionally, the vegetation also impedes fishing, boating, and swimming, and also clogs irrigation channels. 

Despite eradication efforts such as the introduction of weevils, herbicide applications, and other long-term strategies, the weed has proven difficult to eradicate due to its highly invasive and troublesome nature. 

5. Couch Grass (Cynodon dactylon) 

• Local Name: Couch Grass
• Family: Poaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial

Couch Grass is a native perennial grass that forms dense mats through underground runners and spreading rhizomes. 

In Zambia, it is a common weed in maize fields, roadsides, and pastures. Some farmers use improved varieties as pasture, but the wild form is often considered a serious weed due to its quick spreading habit and competition with crops. 

Hand-pulling may be viable for small infestations, while repeated cultivation and herbicide treatments may be needed for larger infestations. 

6. Wandering Jew (Commelina benghalensis)

• Local Name: Wandering Jew, Bhengal Wandering Jew, or Benghal Dayflower
• Family: Commelinaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual or Perennial 

Wandering jew is an annual or perennial weed with succulent stems and blue flowers, and can grow up to 1m tall. The weed invades grasslands, roadsides, open woodlands, and disturbed sites. 

It is also considered a serious weed of cultivated root crops and vegetables. Wandering Jew is also a known host for destructive viruses and pests, potentially adding more agricultural damage. 

Pulling out the young plants is possible, but only effective if all the roots and underground flowers are removed. 

Multiple herbicide treatments are often required to treat seedlings, while the mature plants have shown persistent resistance to glyphosate and other products.

7. Pigweed (Amaranthus spp.)

• Local Name: Pigweed
• Family: Amaranthaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 

Several species of Pigweed can be found in various natural habitats and cultivated fields in Zambia. These robust annuals are a favorite vegetable, but they are also competitive pests in maize fields. 

Hand-pulling or hoeing the young plants is typically effective, as they are often cooked as a vegetable.

8. Goosegrass (Eleusine indica)

• Local Name: Kalolo or Lukata
• Family: Poaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 

The tufted annual grass is a common weed in Zambia’s crop fields, roadsides, pastures, stream banks, and landscapes. 

It is easily identified by its finger-like seed heads, flat or folded leaves along the central vein with a boat-shaped tip, and trailing or erect stems, up to 40 cm high.

Early planting and tillage, intercropping with legumes, and minimal grazing will control the weeds in crop fields. 

Repeat herbicide applications are required to control larger infestations in landscapes and other areas. Ensure to rotate the recommended products to avoid the development of resistance populations.

9. Purlsane (Portulaca oleracea)

• Local Name: Common Purslane
• Family: Portulaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual

Common Purslane is an annual weed that can be commonly sighted in gardens and disturbed areas. It is a prostrate, succulent herb with small, broadly rounded leaves, bright yellow flowers, and stems that reach a height of 30 cm. 

While it is a beloved vegetable in many parts of the country, it can also become a pesky weed if unwanted.

To effectively control Purslane, pull or hoe the plants while young or apply mulch in your garden to limit growth and spread. 

10. Witchweed (Striga hermonthica)

• Local Name: Witchweed, Purple Witchweed, or Striga
• Family: Orobanchaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual or seasonal 

Witchweed is perhaps among the top dreaded weeds in Zambia. It can be traced to areas with poor rainfall and low soil fertility, including the Luangwa Valley and parts of the Southern Province.

The weed is parasitic, which means it attaches to important crops such as maize, millet, and sorghum. Striga deprives the host plant of valuable resources, causing direct damage such as stunted growth which ultimately leads to poor yields.

Once you identify the weeds, pull them out to prevent seed set for future regrowth control. Farmers are encouraged to plant certified seeds or crop varieties that are tolerant to imazapyr for effective control. 

You can refer to this CABI document for more Striga hermonthica prevention measures in maize systems.

11. Visepo (Lantana camara)

• Local Name: Visepo 
• Family: Verbanaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Visepo is an aromatic perennial shrub that can grow up to 2m tall. It can be found in many provinces, including Lusaka, the Northern Province, North West, West, and the Southern Province. 

Lantana camara is a serious invader of overgrazed sites, woodlands, formerly cultivated lands, and other disturbed sites.

It is listed among the world’s worst alien invasive species for its rapid spread, high adaptability, and the extensive negative impact it has on native vegetation. 

Mechanical removal is viable for small infestations or at an early growth stage of a moderate infestation. Cutting the shrubs and combining it with a non-selective herbicide application can provide better control for larger infestations. 

12. Yellow Nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus)

• Local Name: Cyperus esculentus
• Family: Cyperaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Yellow Nutsedge is a perennial weed that can be distinguished by its triangular stems and yellow-brown spikelets. 

It is a common weed of gardens, crop fields, riverbanks, roadsides, irrigation canals, and disturbed areas. If left to establish, it can be a tough weed to eradicate due to its underground root network. 

Hand weeding provides effective control if all the tubers are removed. Postemergence herbicides containing ingredients like glyphosate, sulfentrazone can be applied to control Yellow Nutsedge.

13. Broadleaf Plantain (Plantago major)

• Local Name: Broadleaf Plantain or Broad-leaved Plantain
• Family: Plantaginaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Broadleaf Plantain is a low-growing perennial herb that can be identified by its ovate leaves that form a rosette and elongated spikes with reddish-brown capsules. 

In Zambia, it is both an agricultural and an environmental weed, mainly found in row crops, gardens, pastures, and disturbed areas. 

The weeds can be removed by pulling or digging, mulching, or application of non-selective herbicides like glyphosate. 

14. Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)

• Local Name: Water Hyacinth or Kafue Weed
• Family: Pontederiaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

The world’s worst water weed can be found in lakes and rivers such as Kafue and Zambezi.

The invasive floating weed has caused both socio-economic and ecological problems, including choking waterways, clogging hydroelectric stations, impeding transport and fishing, and harming aquatic life. 

Since the weed thrives on nutrient-rich waters, several companies have since stopped discharging irrigation runoff into the waters to reduce the weed populations.

Fencing off water intakes and recurring manual removal by locals are typically the most effective and economically sustainable strategies to deal with water hyacinth.

15. Bristly Starbur (Acanthospermum hispidum)

• Local Name: Bristly Starbur
• Family: Asteraceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 

Bristly Starbur is an annual erect herb that can grow up to 60 cm. You can identify the weed by its stiff, white hair-covered stems, oblong lanceolate leaves, and small, creamy-yellow flowers. 

It is commonly found in crop fields, pastures, roadsides, disturbed land, and waste areas in the Eastern, Western, Lusaka, and Luapula provinces. 

Apart from outcompeting native plant species and contaminating produce, the leaves and seeds also produce allelopathic properties that inhibit the growth of other plants.

Hand-pulling or hoeing is effective for removing weeds in fields if done before seed set. Herbicides like glyphosate can effectively remove larger infestations.

16. Common Cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium)

• Local Name: Common Cocklebur
• Family: Asteraceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual

Common Cocklebur is an annual herb with spiny burs that stick to animals and clothing. You can also identify the weed by its triangular, three-lobed leaves with a distinct scent. 

This weed is commonly found in the Southern Province, which experiences extended drought seasons and hosts some semi-arid areas. 

However, since it can grow in most environments and tolerate various soil types, Common Cocklebur can also be found in landscapes, agricultural fields, disturbed sites, and streambanks.

Pulling out by and is viable for small infestations and only if done before bud development and seed dispersal. Ensure that you wear protective clothing as the burs can cause dermatitis.

For larger infestations, locals use selective and non-selective herbicides like triclopyr, metsulfuron, and glyphosate, depending on the infested area. 

17. Mexican Clover (Ricardia scabra)

• Local Name: Mexican Clover
• Family: Rubiaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial

As the name implies, the weed grows in warmer climates across the Americas and African countries, including Zambia’s Central, Southern, and Western provinces. 

The weed can be distinguished by its elliptic to lanceolate leaves and 6-petaled, white flowers with triangular lobes. Mexican Clover is a common weed of cultivated land, roadsides, and disturbed sites.

Pull out or dig the weeds using a trowel if you’re dealing with a small area. Ensure to remove the entire taproot to prevent regrowth.

Herbicides like dicamba, metsulfuron, and glyphosate provide effective control if applied on young, actively growing plants.

18. Johnson Grass (Sorghum halepense)

• Local Name: Johnson Grass
• Family: Poaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial

Like many other parts of the world, Johnson Grass is also a troublesome and persistent weed in Zambia. The tall perennial grass spreads by rhizomes, invading crop fields, irrigation canals, abandoned fields, roadsides, streambanks, and waste areas. 

Pull out the young grass when the soil is moist to remove all the rhizomes. Ensure the removed plant fragments are disposed of correctly to prevent resprouting. 

A glyphosate product can eradicate the grass in non-crop areas. Consult a local extension expert on the recommended postemergent herbicides for Johnson Grass in cultivated lands.

19. Morning Glory (Ipomoea purpurea)

• Local Name: Morning Glory
• Family: Convolvulaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 

Morning Glory is a trailing or climbing annual weed with showy purple flowers. It is commonly found in farmlands, gardens, roadsides, fencelines, streambanks, and waste areas. 

The weed can be located in the Copperbelt region, the Northern, Western, and Lusaka provinces. Not only does it outcompete desirable crops, but it can also outgrow native vegetation, severely impacting many habitats. 

Fortunately, the weed and its roots are easy to pull or dig all year round. Alternatively, cutting and spot-treating the remaining fragments with the locally recommended herbicides can also effectively control Morning Glory.

20. Wireweed (Sida acuta)

• Local Name: Wireweed, Common Wireweed, or Spinyhead Sida
• Family: Malvaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Wireweed is a long-lived herb or small shrub that can grow up to 100-150 cm tall. You can identify it by its wiry and tough stems, elongated, yellowish-green leaves with serrated margins, and small yellow to orange flowers.

Common Wireweed is commonly found in crop fields, gardens, pastures, and disturbed sites, mostly in Lusaka Province.

If you prefer hand-pulling, ensure that you grasp the weed close to the base and pull firmly, preferably when the ground is moist. Goat grazing is also practiced as the ruminants love to eat this weed. 

21. Garden Spurge (Euphorbia hirta)

• Local Name: Garden Spurge or Asthma Plant
• Family: Euphorbiaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 

The prostrate or ascending Garden Spurge is a common weed in Zambia’s agricultural areas, gardens, roadsides, and disturbed areas. 

It is easily identified by its round, hairy, reddish stems and oblong to lanceolate leaves with a purplish marking. Since it produces thousands of seeds in a growing season, it can spread quickly. 

Hand-pulling and hoeing can help control the weeds in most landscapes. Mulching in garden beds can also achieve long-term results as the weed requires light to germinate. 

A systemic herbicide like glyphosate can also control large Garden Spurge infestations.

22. Giant Sensitive Plant (Mimosa pigra)

• Local Name: Giant Sensitive Plant
• Family: Fabaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Mimosa pigra is a dense, thorny shrub with sensitive leaves and pink flowers. It invades rivers, swamps, wetlands, and floodplains, especially in Kafue Flats and Lukanga areas, forming impenetrable thickets.

By choking these waterways, the weed not only displaces native vegetation but also affects birds such as cranes and other wildlife. 

The strategy commonly deployed by the local communities includes cutting, burning, and chemical control. Mimosa plants are slashed to ground level with the remaining fragments left to dry and later burned. 

The regrowth is treated with approved herbicides through foliar sprays, cut stump applications, and soil application. 

23. Flossflower (Ageratum houstonianum)

• Local Name: Flossflower, Goatweed, Ageratum, or Blue Billygoat Weed
• Family: Asteraceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual or Short-lived Perennial 

Goatweed is an annual or short-lived perennial herb that grows 10-100 cm tall. The weed can be identified by its softly-haired, round stems, obovate to egg-shaped leaves with bluntly toothed margins, and clusters of purplish, blue, or pink fragrant, long-living, tubular flowers. 

Apart from wind dispersal, the seeds attach to animals, clothing, and contaminated produce, making it a highly invasive weed in pastures, crop fields, gardens, roadsides, waste areas, and disturbed sites. 

Hand-pulling is viable for small infestations. The plant parts need to be bagged and disposed of correctly to avoid resprouting.

Herbicides such as glyphosate and metsulfuron-methyl used with a surfactant are indicated for effective Flossflower control. 

24. Siam Weed (Chromolaena odorata)

• Local Name: Siam Weed or Jack in the Bush
• Family: Asteraceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Siam Weed is a perennial subshrub that can grow up to 2.5-3m. It has a woody base, while the upper stems have soft, elliptic to triangular leaves, and panicles of white to pale pink flowers. 

Chromolaena odorata is an invasive weed of field crops, protected forests, and pastures. Siam Weed is highly allelopathic to neighbouring vegetation, toxic to cattle, and can cause allergic reactions to humans.

Pulling out by hand is effective if all the fragments are removed and disposed of away from the site. Repeated slashing and application of glyphosate or metsulfuron on the young shoots can assist in removing the weed.

25. Jungle Rice (Echinochloa colona)

• Local Name: Jungle Rice 
• Family: Poaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 

Jungle Rice is a fast-growing annual grass that commonly invades margins of maize, rice, and vegetable farms and other disturbed muddy or swampy places. 

It is easily identified by its hairless stems and erect or ascending dull green culms, sometimes with purple banding.

Hand-pulling or hoeing before set seed will reduce the spread. Ensure that you dispose of it far from the fields and burn the weeds. Various herbicides like butachlor and glyphosate can be used to control Jungle Rice based on the areas of infestation.

Sylvia Kiragu

Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.

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The post 25 Most Common Weeds in Zambia (With Pictures) appeared first on InsightWeeds.

Lobed leaves are divided into distinct projections that not only look visually distinct but also play various roles for different plants. 

In this post, we’ll look at a comprehensive list of weeds with lobed leaves and highlight how these leaf structures aid in their survival.

1. Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)

• Local Name: Dandelion or Common Dandelion
• Family: Asteraceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial

One of the distinct features of this common lawn weed are its deeply-lobed leaves that form a basal rosette. 

The lobes allow for efficient water channeling to the roots and also help the plant to enjoy good sun exposure by spreading close to the ground. 

Pull out or use a handy tool to remove dandelions from the roots. Herbicides like dicamba, 2,4-D, triclopyr, and glyphosate can help control larger infestations. 

2. Wild Mustard (Sinapis arvensis)

• Local Name: Wild Mustard
• Family: Brassicaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual

Wild Mustard is a summer annual found in the mustard family. It is a common and aggressive weed in the grain and forage crop fields as well as disturbed sites with high nitrogen levels.

It produces variable leaf shapes, but the lower leaves of a mature plant are broadly lobed with toothed edges. Apart from providing nutrition, the lobed leaves help to achieve fast growth and to crowd out of crops.

Repeated manual removal and cultivation at the seedling stage will exhaust the seedbank. Mowing can also help reduce seed production and spread. 

Glyphosate, triclopyr, 2,4-D, triclopyr + 2,4-D, and dicamba can be applied at different stages to eradicate the weed.

3. Bull Thistle (Cirsium vulgare)

• Local Name: Bull Thistle, Common Thistle, or Bur Thistle
• Family: Asteraceae
• Annual or Perennial: Biennial

Bull thistle, like most of its cousins, is considered one of the most noxious weeds across the globe. Part of what makes the thistle an efficient spreader is its leaves.

The weed begins by forming deeply lobed and spiny leaves that create a basal rosette about 65 cm wide. 

While they mainly ensure the growth of the weed in the next season, the leaves can also effectively deter herbivores and allow easy light and air penetration in dense stands. 

Canada Thistle has a similar leaf structure to Bull Thistle, but its basal rosettes vary between deeply divided and shallowly lobed leaf designs.

Grazing, hand-pulling, cutting, repeated mowing, and tillage done before flowering can help control small Bull Thistle populations. For larger plants, apply herbicides like dicamba, 2,4-D, glyphosate, picloram, or MCPA on the basal rosettes.

4. Shepherd’s Purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris)

• Local Name: Shepherd’s Pouch, Lady’s Purse, or Shepherd’s Bag
• Family: Brassicaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 

Shepherd’s Purse is a winter annual Eurasian native commonly found in crop fields and any disturbed site.

Its leaves vary in shape, but its basal rosette leaves can range from smooth to deeply lobed. The leaves assist the weed to sprout in compacted soils and prevent being shaded out by other plants.

For fast and effective control, herbicides such as flumioxazin, glyphosate, diquat-bromide, and bentazon can be applied, based on the infestation area. 

5. Common Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia)

• Local Name: Ragweed, Common Ragweed, or Annual Ragweed
• Family: Asteraceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual

Ragweed is an annual weed native to the Americas. It is a rapid colonizer of open areas and disturbed sites, but it is mostly known for its allergenic pollen that causes hay fever.

This summer weed can be easily identified by its finely divided, deeply lobed leaves with a fern-like appearance. The leaf adaptation allows the plant to withstand wind, thereby growing to a maximum height for effective pollen dispersal.

The best removal methods include hand weeding, cutting, and mowing at a height 2 cm from the soil. You can also consider postemergence herbicides like dicamba, 2,4-D, imazapic, and metsulfuron-methyl, depending on the crop or area infested. 

6. Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum)

• Local Name: Poison Hemlock
• Family: Apiaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Biennial

Poison Hemlock is a tall and invasive biennial that can be found in stream banks, roadsides, riparian areas, and edges of cultivated fields.

Apart from the basal rosette leaves in the first year, it also produces true leaves that are smooth, pale green with numerous deeply lobed leaflets, arranged alternately along the stem.

The leaves serve the basic core functions, which include efficient photosynthesis, flexibility, and herbivore deterrence. 

Herbicides like glyphosate, 2,4-D, and triclopyr provide effective control if applied in the first-year basal rosette, as the more it grows, the more expensive herbicide control it may require. 

7. Common Cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium)

• Local Name: Cocklebur, Common Cocklebur, or Rough Cocklebur
• Family: Asteraceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 

Common Cocklebur is a summer annual known for invading pastures, crop fields (especially corn, soybean, and cotton), orchards, roadsides, and riparian areas.

Besides the spiny burrs, the mature plant also produces leaves that are triangular and lobed, with toothed margins, and are alternately arranged along the stem.

Remove the weeds by hand or with a digging tool if you’re dealing with a small infestation. You’ll need strong gloves as you handle the weed. Alternatively, use broadleaf herbicides like dicamba, 2,4-D, and triclopyr.

8. Bristly Mallow (Modiola caroliniana)

• Local Name: Carolina Bristlemallow, Redflower Mallow, or Bristly-fruited Mallow
• Family: Malvaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial

Bristly Mallow is a broadleaf perennial weed native to South America. It commonly invades gardens and lawns, alfalfa fields, and pond shores.

Mature plants produce leaves in variable shapes, from ovate to palm-shaped with 6-7 deep lobes and or deeply divided with lobes. 

The leaves not only provide food and shelter for insects, they also contain a high level of mucilage which allows the plant to absorb and retain moisture even in drought. 

If the weed invades your lawn or garden, hand weed it before it produces seed in early summer. Ensure that you remove the deep taproot system to avoid regrowth. Postemergent herbicides containing combinations of dicamba and MCPA or MCPA and bromoxynil can also provide effective control against the mallow.

9.Hairy Bittercress (Cardamine hirsuta)

• Local Name: Hairy Bittercress, Hoary Bittercress, Bittercress, Land Cress, or Springcress
• Family: Brassicaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 

Hairy Bittercress is a winter annual that will be one of the first weeds to pop up in your lawn where the turf is thin or bare in late summer. 

The small, low-growing weed bears 2-4 pairs of leaflets with lobed margins that merge to form a basal rosette.

The best removal method is by hand or digging before it sets seed. Landscapers have found it easy to pull or dig as long as the ground is not frozen. Adequate mulching in garden beds, as well as maintaining a dense and healthy lawn, can also discourage growth. 

For larger infestations, consider herbicides such as glyphosate, pelargonic acid, diquat, and glufosinate, depending on the affected area.

10. Cutleaf Evening Primrose (Oenothera laciniata)

• Local Name: Cutleaf Evening Primrose
• Family: Onagraceae
• Annual or Perennial: Biannual 

Cutleaf Evening Primrose is an upright or prostrate weed that grows in thin lawns, fencerows, open fields, and waste areas.

The weed grows toothed and lobed leaves for increased photosynthesis surface area and to help it withstand drought conditions. 

You can pull out small weeds by hand, especially when the ground is moist, as it can develop a thick taproot. Herbicides containing dicamba, glyphosate, 2,4-D, and paraquat are indicated for the best control results. 

Sylvia Kiragu

Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.

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The post List of Weeds With Lobed Leaves appeared first on InsightWeeds.

Fortunately, with quick identification and the right removal methods, you can get ahead of the invaders and reclaim your lawn.

In this post, you’ll find a list of common low creeping lawn and the most effective strategies to remove them.

1. White Clover (Trifolium repens)

• Local Name: White Clover
• Family: Fabaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

White clover is a low growing herbaceous perennial plant that is native to Europe and Asia. You would first notice its egg-shaped, trifoliate leaves with light or dark markings before the white to pink flowers appear.

The growth of white clover in your lawn can indicate a poor nitrogen-nutrient profile. To eliminate the weed, improve lawn health through proper mowing (above 3 inches and apply nitrogen-rich fertilizer. 

You can pull out the young plants when the ground is moist or spot treat with a selective postemergent broadleaf herbicide like dicamba, 2,4-D, MCPP, and triclopyr.

2. Spotted Spurge (Euphorbia maculata)

• Local Name: Spotted Spurge or Prostrate Spurge
• Family: Euphorbiaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 

Spotted spurge is an annual low growing weed native to North America. The common lawn weed spreads about 45-60 cm along the ground. 

You can identify the weed by its slender, reddish stems and small, dark green, round to oblong leaves with reddish-purple spots in the middle. Spotted Spurge typically grows in thin lawns. 

The best way to remove small patches is through pulling or hoeing before they produce seed. Alternatively, spot treatments of selective herbicides like MCPP, 2,4-D, and dicamba can help eliminate less mature plants. 

The tip here is to deal with the weed early to avoid resorting to non-selective ingredients like glyphosate that will harm your grass. 

Ensure that you maintain a healthy turf through proper watering, mowing, and fertilization after removing the weeds to prevent regrowth.

3. Crabgrass (Digitaria ischaemum and Digitaria sanguinalis)

• Local Names: Smooth Crabgrass and Large Crabgrass
• Family: Poaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual

Both crabgrass species are pesky annual weeds that can sneak into your lawn. What makes them tricky to identify is that they grow slowly at first and easily blend in with the rest of the grass during spring. 

It’s probably in summer that you’ll notice a different light-green shade of grass that stands out against your darker-green turf. Fortunately, there are a few effective removal methods you can deploy.

Hand pulling or hand-held tools are viable options for a few stands of grass. Ensure that you reseed the gaps to prevent the growth of other weeds. 

Postemergence herbicides containing quinclorac, mestorione, and fenoxaprop provide effective control against both grasses. Ensure that you apply the product appropriate for the growth stage for the best results.

If you’re concerned that crabgrass may appear the next spring, apply a crabgrass preventer or Tenacity for newly seeded turf or dithiopyr, prodiamine, and dithiopyr for established turf.

4. Creeping Charlie (Hederacea glechoma)

• Local Name: Creeping Charlie, Creeping Jenny, Gill Over the Ground, or Ground Ivy
• Family: Lamiaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial

Creeping Charlie is a perennial weed efficient at forming dense mats in lawns. The fast-spreading weed is easily identifiable by its round to kidney-shaped leaves that produce a minty odor when crushed and purple-blue flowers. 

You’ll notice this weed in shady, moist, or thin areas of the lawn. Hand-pulling or hoeing is only viable for extremely small infestations. Make sure that you remove the entire root system and runners to avoid regrowth. 

However, due to its seed, rhizome, and stolon spreading habit, it’s a very difficult weed to control without herbicides. Use products containing 2,4-D, dicamba, triclopyr, or sulfentrazone to get rid of Creeping Jenny in lawns. Keep in mind that even herbicide applications can take years to completely eradicate the weed. 

If the weed is progressively overtaking your lawn grass despite your best efforts, it’s best to kill all the vegetation and reseed your lawn. 

5. Chickweed (Stellaria media)

• Local Name: Chickweed or Common Chickweed
• Family: Caryophyllaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 

Common Chickweed is a winter annual broadleaf that you’ll probably find in shady and moist areas of your lawn. But don’t let the small, delicate plant with tear-drop-shaped leaves and  star-like flowers fool you. It can produce an average of 25,000 seeds per plant with a viability of over 10 years. 

It is also a host to plant viruses and pest insects. This can only mean bad news for your turf, especially if it’s nitrogen-rich, as it prefers highly fertile and neutral soils.

If you’re dealing with a small infestation, hand-pulling before seed set and when the soil is moist can help eliminate the weed. For bigger infestations, consider herbicides like dicamba and triclopyr. Ensure that you check the label for indications on specific turfgrasses. 

Once removed, maintain a healthy lawn and proper drainage to discourage seed germination.

6. Purslane (Portulaca oleracea)

• Local Name: Purslane or Common Purslane
• Family: Portulaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual

You probably appreciate Common Purslane’s diverse culinary benefits but not when it’s growing on your front lawn. The low growing weed prefers invading newly seeded turf, low-maintenance lawns, or areas in the lawn under full sun.

For easy identification, look for small, flat, rubbery leaves and reddish stems that branch out of a central root. If left unchecked, Purslane can form dense mats on your lawn and quickly produce thousands of seeds that remain viable up to 40 years. 

However, since the spreading branches come off a single root, it is easy to pull by hand. Ensure you remove the entire root system and dispose of it correctly to avoid rerooting. 

Postemergence herbicides you can consider include dicamba, 2,4-D, MCPP, and MSMA. Improving your lawn practices to achieve a healthy and competitive turf can get rid of this weed problem in the following seasons.

7. Carpetweed (Mollugo verticillata)

• Local Name: Green Carpetweed, Whorled Chickweed, Indian Carpetweed, or Devil’s Grip 
• Family: Molluginaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual

As its name suggests, this summer annual weed grows close to the ground, hardly exceeding 5 inches in height. Carpetweed thrives in disturbed areas and will therefore commonly invade newly planted turf.

From a central root, it grows a circular mat of dull green leaves with variable shapes that spread in all directions, quickly forming dense mats. 

Hand pulling or digging using a garden tool is a viable option in the initial stage of the infestation. 

For larger infestations, apply herbicides containing one or more of the active ingredients like 2,4-D, dicamba, MCPP, or triclopyr on actively growing foliage for effective control.

8. Creeping Buttercup (Ranunculus repens)

• Local Name: Creeping Buttercup, Creeping Crowfoot, or Sitfast
• Family: Ranunculaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial

Picking Creeping Buttercup games are no longer fun when it’s creeping on your prized lawn. The stoloniferous weed is commonly found in thin turf, forming large patches through new plants that root at the nodes. 

To correctly identify the low growing weed, look for three lobed leaves or leaflets variable in shape, with deep sinuses and serrated margins. 

Improving lawn density through regular mowing, infrequent irrigation, and improved drainage can drastically reduce infestations. 

Postmergence herbicides like triclopyr, dicamba, MCPA, mesotrione, 2,4-D, and fluroxypyr can assist in removing the pesky weeds.

9. Virginia Buttonweed (Diodia virginiana)

• Local Name: Virginia Buttonweed or Buttonweed
• Family: Rubiaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Buttonweed is one of the most problematic low growing lawn weeds. The annual broadleaf produces deep roots and grows prostrate and spreading branches.

It is easily identifiable by its stiff, slightly thickened leaves, typically with a distinct mottled yellow appearance and occasionally hairy, longitudinally-ridged stems. 

Postemergence herbicides containing 2,4-D, dicamba, MCPP, and carfentrazone provide the best means of removing the persistent weed from your lawn for good.

10. Yellow Woodsorrel (Oxalis stricta)

• Local Name: Yellow Oxalis, Shamrock, Sheep’s Clover, or Sour Trefoil
• Family: Oxalidaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual or Short-lived Perennial

Unlike many early weed springers, the Yellow Woodsorrel prefers to fill up the gaps left by the weeds eliminated in the yard. The weed typically grows about 6 inches in height and you can identify it by its palmately compound, heart-shaped leaves. 

What makes Shamrock a tricky weed is that it can occur in poorly or highly maintained lawns, dry or moist soils, and in shady or sunny spots. 

Additionally, since they grow so close to the ground at first and can appear as individual plants or as patches, you’ll only notice them once the weeds start to flower. 

Hand pulling is easy for controlling young plants. Herbicides indicated for Yellow Oxalis include 2,4-D, dicamba, MCPP, triclopyr, and fluroxypyr.

11. Wild Violet (Viola papilionacea)

• Local Name: Purple Violet, Meadow Violet, Common Blue Violet, or Hooded Violet
• Family: Violaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Wild Violet is an aggressive low growing weed that prefers moist soils and shaded areas. The dense rhizome system allows the weed to spread quickly, forming large patches. 

You can identify it by its showy violet, blue, or white flowers and waxy, heart-shaped leaves. Wild Violet commonly invades turf that is adjacent to wooded areas. 

Removal methods include hand-pulling, with the extraction of the entire root system required. While it has shown resistance to common herbicides, repeated applications of combinations of two or more active ingredients, such as 2,4-D, dicamba, triclopyr, fluroxypyr, and flumioxazin, can help remove the weed.

12. Goosegrass (Eleusine indica)

• Local Name: Indian Goosegrass or Wiregrass
• Family: Poaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual

Goosegrass is a tropical grass that grows prostrate or slightly upright in lawns. It has flattened, branching stems that typically form a tough and clumpy growth, especially in high-traffic areas or thinning turf. 

The grass can be easily identified by its stem rosette formation with prominent  white or silver leaf sheaths at the base and dark-green folded leaf blades.

It is a problematic weed because of its prolific seed production and aggressive growth. If you’re dealing with a small infestation, hand-pulling may be effective. 

Herbicides indicated for Goosegrass control include MCPP, topramezone, fenoxaprop-p-ethyl, and dicamba. 

Sylvia Kiragu

Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.

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The post List of Low Creeping Lawn Weeds And Their Removal Methods appeared first on InsightWeeds.

Think of plants that sip through a straw, bloom trumpet-like flowers, have hollow stems, or tubular leaves.

In this post, we’ll discover five unique plants with tube-like structures and how these designs help them thrive in their environments.

1. Pitcher Plant (Nepenthes and Sarracenia spp.)

One of the most renowned examples of plants that rely on tubular structures for survival belongs to the Nepenthes and Sarracenia species. Pitcher plants live on a carnivorous diet that includes insects, frogs, and other small mammals. 

What forms their unique diet-capturing mechanism? They have evolved tube-like leaves that form a narrow, hollow pitcher with a lid. 

The leaf hood forms a natural trap filled with nectar, and once inside, the prey falls into the digestive juices, becoming the wildflower’s food supplement for growing in nutrient-poor soils.

2. Corey Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)

Corey Honeysuckle is a twinning vine that can grow 20-30 feet tall. This North American native also boasts of striking, red, trumpet-shaped flowers that have four upper lobes and one lower lobe.

What makes these showy flowers fascinating is that they are non-fragrant, yet they produce sweet nectar that’s a magnet for hummingbirds. It’s the only bird with the right morphology to reach it. As they feed, the birds enable efficient pollination by transferring pollen from flower to flower.

3. Horsetail (Equisetum spp.)

Horsetails are vascular plants that date back to prehistoric times. Their distinct green, jointed, hollow stems have, over the millennia, helped the plant to stand upright without the need for woody tissue. This adaptation allows the plants to get maximum sunlight, especially in crowded environments.

Additionally, the tube-like stems also facilitate internal aeration, water management, and defense, making it resistant to herbivore and mechanical damage. All these adaptations help the plant survive and thrive in its environment.

4. Calla Lily (Zantedeschia spp.)

The elegant Calla Lily features a funnel-shaped tube, known as a spathe, that wraps around the reproductive spike. While often confused for petals, it is a pollinator attractant that guides the insects to the well tucked flowers beneath. 

In some of the lily species, the surface of the tube-like spathes may be smooth and slippery, causing even the unhelpful insects to carry pollen, and thereby increasing pollination success.

Overall, the tube-like structure is not only highly designed for reproductive success, but it also creates an inviting and mesmerizing appeal that captures the hearts of many.

5. Bamboo (Bambusoideae)

Bamboo is a fast-growing plant with one of the most iconic and functional tube-like structures, the culms. The hollow stems provide mechanical strength, allowing them to withstand strong winds and heavy rain.

Additionally, the jointed culms also enable the bamboo to reach impressive heights quickly. They also support aeration, water, and nutrition transport, and provide protection against pests and fungal attacks. 

Bamboo tube-like stems can balance strength, speed, and sustainability. That’s why it’s not only a vital plant in environmental restoration but it’s also one of the most valuable resources in diverse industries such as textile and construction. 

Sylvia Kiragu

Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.

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The post 5 Plants With Tube-like Structures appeared first on InsightWeeds.

It is identified by its well-branched stems that emerge from a basal rosette and daisy-like flower heads with white, thread-like ray florets and yellow disk florets. 

Eastern Daisy Fleabane Classification

• Domain: Eukaryota
• Kingdom: Plantae
• Phylum: Tracheophyta
• Subphylum: Angiospermae
• Class: Dicotyledonae
• Order: Asterales
• Family: Asteraceae
• Genus: Erigeron 
• Species: Erigeron annuus
• Common Names: Daisy Fleabane, Annual Fleabane, Common Fleabane, Tall Fleabane, and White Top

Nativity and Distribution

Daisy Fleabane is native to North and Central America. It has since been introduced in other regions such as Asia, Europe, India, and Korea.

Physical Characteristics

• Leaves: Large, toothed basal leaves and smaller, sessile upper leaves
• Fruits: Dry, light-brown with bristles 
• Stems: Well-branched, sparsely hairy stems 0.3-1.5m
• Flowers: Showy daisy-like flowers, 2.5 cm wide
• Roots: Taproot system

Eastern Daisy Fleabane is a herbaceous broadleaf weed that can grow 60-150cm tall. It is easily identified by its well-branched stems that emerge from a basal rosette and daisy-like flower heads with white, thread-like ray florets and yellow disk florets. 

The leaves occur in two forms. When young, the weed forms basal rosette leaves that are broad, light-green, slightly hairy, coarsely toothed with a pointed tip and can grow up to 5-15 cm long and  2-7 cm wide.

Middle stems are narrower, linear-shaped, hairy, smooth, and typically don’t clasp the stem. The upper leaves are smaller, alternate, lance-shaped, with a smooth outline and a pointed tip.

The stems are simple, well-branched, sparsely hairy or smooth, green in color, and can grow up to 1.5 m. 

Daisy Fleabane produces showy clusters of daisy-like inflorescence at the end of the branches. They begin as rounded green buds and eventually grow to composite flowers.

Each flower is about 1-2.5 cm wide and has a central disk of yellow florets and white, threadlike 40-120 ray florets. 

The stems often bend when the buds form, a phenomenon referred to as the ‘shepherd’s crook’. Rays close up in the nighttime, the bud turning into a pinkish hue until they open up again in the daytime. Flowering occurs in early to mid-May. 

The seed is small, light brown, and 1 mm in length. 

Reproduction, Dispersal, and Life Cycle

• Life Cycle: Annual and sometimes biennial
• Seeds: A prolific seed producer
• Climate: Temperate climate
• Dispersal: Wind, water, and human activity

Erigeron annuus is typically an annual, but in some instances, it may behave as a biennial. The herb thrives in temperate climates and reproduces by seed.

Seeds are light with pappus-like hairs that allow for effective wind dispersal. Other secondary dispersal methods are water and human movement. 

The seeds are largely viable and allow the weed to aggressively colonize disturbed areas such as pastures, roadsides, abandoned fields, and waste areas. 

Eastern Daisy Fleabane prefers full sun and well-drained soil, but can also thrive in partial sun where there is adequate moisture. It is tolerant of gravel and clay soils.

However, hot and dry or cold and wet weather conditions will likely cause the plant to die off.

Similar Plants

• Erigeron canadensis
• Erigeron strigosus
• Erigeron philadelphicus

Uses

1. It is a popular ornamental in pollinator, butterfly, cottage, and children’s gardens. 
2. Young leaves are cooked as vegetables.
3. Native tribes in North America used Daisy Fleabane to treat digestive and menstrual issues.
4. A flower infusion was used to relieve fevers and head colds.
5. The plant has been used to treat epidemic hepatitis, hepaturia, lymphadenitis, and hepaturia.

Impact on Farms and Environment

Erigeron annuus is rarely considered a serious weed in cropping systems. However, it can typically be found in pastures where it may aggressively compete with desirable grasses, reducing livestock productivity.

Since it’s a prolific seed producer and a fast-growing weed, it often requires repeated control treatments, which add to the management costs. 

In diverse habitats like abandoned fields, roadsides, vacant lots, and railways, Daisy Fleabane successfully competes with native and other introduced species.  

Control

• Mechanical control: Hand-pulling, mowing, and tillage
• Chemical control: Herbicide treatment containing 2,4-D and MCPA

Hand-pulling is a good control mechanism for small infestations. Ensure that you remove the entire taproot and fill the gaps with native vegetation to prevent the growth of other invasive weeds.

Mowing can reduce seed dispersion and hence the spread. Tillage in both spring and fall will also aid in the prevention of Daisy Fleabane growth.

For larger infestations, apply herbicides containing 2,4-D and MCPA on young and actively growing plants for effective control. 

Sylvia Kiragu

Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.

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The post Erigeron annuus (Eastern Daisy Fleabane) appeared first on InsightWeeds.

It is easily recognized by its tall, stiff, reddish-green stems, narrow, willowlike leaves that spiral up the stem, and clusters of pink to magenta flowers.

Fireweed Classification

• Domain: Eukaryota
• Kingdom: Plantae
• Phylum: Tracheophyta
• Subphylum: Angiospermae
• Class: Dicotyledonae
• Order: Myrtales
• Family: Onagraceae
• Genus: Chamaenerion 
• Species: Chamaenerion angustifolium
• Common Names: Bomb Weed, Perennial Fireweed, Narrow-leaved Fireweed, Willow Herb, Great Willow Herb, Flowering Willow, Rosebay, and Rosebay Willowherb

Nativity and Distribution

Fireweed is native to the countries in the northern hemisphere, including:

• Canada
• Northern United States
• British Isles
• Temperate Asia

Physical Characteristics

• Leaves: Narrowly lanceolate, spirally arranged, 5-20 cm long 
• Fruits: Elongated, many-seeded, reddish-brown pods
• Stems: Stiff, smooth, reddish-green, about 0.3-2 m 
• Flowers: Terminal raceme of pink to magenta flowers
• Roots: Fibrous root system

Fireweed is a strongly rhizomatous perennial herb found in the temperate north of the globe. The wildflower gets its name from its tendency to appear first after fires. 

You can identify the plant by its upright, reddish-green stems, narrow, willowlike leaves that spiral up the stem, and clusters of pink to magenta flowers.

Leaves are alternate (with lower leaves more opposite), linear or long lanceolate, willow-like, about 5-20 cm long, and spiral up the stem. They are deep green on the upper surface and pale green on the lower surface with prominent veins. The margins are minutely toothed. 

Stems are simple, stiff, stout, typically about 0.3-2 m, but can occasionally grow over 2.5 m. They are often reddish-green in color, unbranched, pubescent above with small, short hairs, and glabrous on the lower surface.

Fireweed produces pink to magenta flowers with egg-shaped petals on a slender, terminal raceme that progresses from bottom to top. 

The flowers are 2.5-3 cm wide with four magenta petals and four lower pink sepals, and a protruding style with four stigmas. Flowering occurs from June to September. 

The seed is small, brown, and has a tuft of white silky hairs at the tip.

Reproduction, Dispersal, and Life Cycle

• Life Cycle: Perennial
• Seeds: A prolific seed producer
• Climate: Temperate climate
• Dispersal: Wind

C. angustifolium behaves as a perennial, thriving in temperate regions in the Northern Hemisphere. 

The wildflower reproduces by seeds, and with a single capsule holding 300-400 seeds, a single plant can produce over 80,000 seeds. Seeds are tiny, light, and have a tuft of hair that allows for easy wind dispersal. 

Once the seeds settle on disturbed ground, they germinate into new plants that further extend through rhizomes. A single plant can persist over many years to form a large patch. However, its average colonization peak is five years, and other trees and bushes will begin to overtake the weed.

Fireweed prefers nutrient-rich, well-drained soil and full sun or partial shade. While the weed can adapt to neutral, acidic, or slightly alkaline soils, it can’t tolerate poor or waterlogged soils. 

It is also highly adapted to fire and quickly reproduces through seeds and underground rhizomes to overtake the burned areas.

Bomb Weed is commonly found in fields, pastures, roadsides, clearings, ravines, open woods, and burnover lands.

Similar Plants

• Lythrum salicaria
• Epibolium hirsutum

Uses

1. Young shoots and leaves are consumed as cooked vegetables. 
2. The fresh leaves are eaten raw or fermented and consumed as tea.
3. Stem fibers are used to make ropes and cords. 
4. The seed hairs are used as tinder for fires or as stuffing. 
5. Young flowers are edible and used to form a jelly in the Yukon. 
6. The roots are eaten raw or roasted in Siberia.
7. The leaves are blended with mint or thyme and sold as a commercial tea product in Russia.
8. The weed was used by indigenous people in Canada as an external remedy for eczema.
9. The plant has been used as traditional medicine for colds, urinary problems, wound healing, migraine headaches, and sleeping disorders.
10. It is grown as an ornamental plant in meadows and woodland, rock, or cottage gardens.
11. Honey produced during the Fireweed bloom season is highly valued in Canada, Alaska, and the Pacific Northwest. 
12. Fireweed is used in speedy vegetation re-establishment efforts for areas that have undergone oil spills, prescribed fires, or extreme logging. 

Impact on Farms and Environment

Chamaenerion angustifolium is not a serious weed in cropping systems. However, where it invades perennial crops and pastures, it can reduce yields and valuable forage grass, leading to reduced income and livestock productivity, respectively. 

It can also be found in recently disturbed lands or important commercial ecosystems such as coniferous forests. If left unchecked, it can become weedy and invasive, limiting desirable seedling growth or choking out native vegetation in important habitats. 

The plant is a well-known host of the root-rotting Amallaria spp., which can cause huge economic losses in commercial pine forests. Fireweed has also been observed to have allelopathic effects on lettuce.

Control

• Cultural control: Grazing in early spring and fall
• Mechanical control: Pulling and digging the rhizomes
• Chemical control: Herbicides like glyphosate and triclopyr

For a fireweed infestation in fields and pastures, grazing in early spring and again in the fall can help reduce the spread. However, this should be done under strict supervision to prevent poisoning. 

For small infestations in gardens, hand-pulling before flowering and seed set can control the weed. Digging up the entire rhizome systems will help prevent regrowth and repeated weeding.

Repeated cutting and repeated spot treatments of non-selective herbicides like glyphosate can help eradicate the weed.

Consult a local extension expert for the best removal strategy if you are unsure of how to handle a fireweed infestation.

Sylvia Kiragu

Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.

insightweeds.com/

The post Chamaenerion angustifolium (Fireweed) appeared first on InsightWeeds.

It is easily identified by its green to dark-green trifoliate leaves with three oval leaflets and dome-shaped clusters of bright-yellow flowers. 

Black Medic Classification

• Domain: Eukaryota
• Kingdom: Plantae
• Phylum: Tracheophyta
• Subphylum: Angiospermae
• Class: Dicotyledonae
• Order: Fabales
• Family: Fabaceae
• Genus: Medicago
• Species: Medicago lupulina
• Common Names: Black Medic, Black Nonesuch, Black Clover, Yellow Trefoil, Hop Medic, Black Hay, and English Trefoil

Nativity and Distribution

Black Medic is native to Europe, Asia, and North and East Africa. Today, it has been naturalized in other regions, including North America, most of South America, South Africa, New Zealand, India, China, and Australia. 

Physical Characteristics

• Leaves: Green to dark-green leaves with 3 oval leaflets
• Fruits:  Kidney-shaped, 1.5-3mm wide, single-seeded pods
• Stems: Slender, slightly hairy stems, about 10-45 cm long
• Flowers: Rounded clusters of tiny, bright-yellow flowers
• Roots: Taproot system

Hop Clover is a shallow-rooted, annual or short-lived perennial, herbaceous broadleaf that grows 15-80 cm long. It belongs to the legume family and is closely related to true clovers.

You can easily identify M. lupulina by its green to dark-green trifoliate leaves with three oval leaflets and dome-shaped clusters of bright-yellow flowers. 

Leaves are alternate, trifoliate, green to dark green, with each leaf dividing into three ovate leaflets. The leaflets are compound, 5-15 mm long, prominently veined, and have somewhat toothed margins. 

The outer leaflets are attached to the stem, while the middle leaflet slightly protrudes on an extended stalk. There are a pair of stipules that are lanceolate to ovate, at the base where the petiole meets the stem.

Stems are slender, prostrate or ascending, light green to reddish-green, 10-45 cm long. They may have white hairs, which decrease as the plant reaches maturity. 

Nonesuch produces dome-shaped, compact clusters, about 6mm wide, each of 10-50 tiny, peal-like, bright-yellow flowers, each 3mm wide. Flowering occurs from April to September, depending on the prevailing conditions. 

The seed is oval, smooth, olive green to brown, about 2mm long, with a small point on the concave side.

Reproduction, Dispersal, and Life Cycle

• Life Cycle: Annual or Perennial
• Seeds: A prolific seed producer
• Climate: Temperate and subtropical climates
• Dispersal: Wind, water, animals, and human activity

Medicago lupulina behaves as a summer or winter annual and sometimes as a short-lived perennial. It thrives in temperate and subtropical climates and reproduces by seed.

A single plant is reported to produce over 6000 seeds. The seeds first fall from the mature pods before being dispersed by other agents like animals, wind, water, and human activities like tillage and mowing. 

The seeds are generally viable and germinate quickly where ideal conditions occur. Seeds that germinate in mid-summer remain vegetative, and those that survive winter emerge the following spring.

Immature plants can flower within six weeks after emergence, while a mature plant continues to produce inflorescences throughout the growing season. The seeds buried underground can remain viable for many years. 

Hop Clover thrives in dry or moist, nutrient-deficient, neutral, and slightly acidic soils and prefers sunny areas. However, it can adapt to a variety of environmental conditions. 

Where it occurs in lawns, it can be an indicator of low nitrogen levels. Black Medic can also be found in pastures, fields, agronomic crop fields, gardens, vineyards, riverbanks, roadsides, and other disturbed sites. 

Similar Plants

• Medicago polymorpha
• Trifolium campestre
• Trifolium aureum
• Trifolium dubium
• Oxalis stricta

Uses

1. It is grown as a fodder plant in sheep pastures and is also used for forage and hay. 
2. It is a common plant in cover cropping rotations meant to improve nitrogen levels and overall soil fertility. 
3. Hop Clover is grown on dry land to create artificial meadows.
4. It is used in orchards and vineyards for moisture and organic matter preservation and weed growth prevention.
5. It is used for soil remediation where high levels of heavy metals like lead (Pb) are observed. 
6. Black Medic is used to stabilize soil in areas like roadside borders. 

Impact on Farms and Environment

Black medic is an aggressive weed in cropping systems. It can be found in crop fields, vineyards, and orchards, where it competes for important nutrients and light. 

What makes it a persistent weed that requires repeated control is that it can thrive in poor conditions, and its long seed viability continuously keeps sprouting up in the growing seasons.

Hop clover is also a common weed of lawns, especially in poorly maintained turf. It may also be an indicator of low nitrogen levels. 

The weed further weakens the turf by competing for important resources while fixing its own nitrogen levels to thrive. It also causes even and unsightly patches on manicured lawns. 

Additionally, its long taproot makes big infestations difficult to control and may require more expensive strategies to limit the spread.

Overall, where a Nonesuch invasion occurs, including riverbanks, fields, pastures, and other disturbed sites, it can potentially outcompete and displace native vegetation. Its long seed viability and adaptability to different conditions will require consistent efforts to prevent germination and establishment.

Control

• Cultural control: Improved turf management and core aeration
• Mechanical control: Hand pulling and mowing
• Chemical control: Herbicides like fluroxypyr, MCPP, and dicamba

In lawns, you can prevent Black Medic growth by improving practices that encourage dense growth, such as proper fertilization, irrigation, and mowing at a 3-inch range. 

Eliminating soil compaction through core aeration in areas such as sidewalks,curbs, and roadsides can also help discourage weed growth.

Hand-pulling is a viable option for small infestations of even mature plants, especially when the ground is moist, while mowing at a 3-inch range can help remove larger infestations on lawns. Hoeing and cultivation are recommended for small areas like gardens. 

Ensure that you remove the weeds before they flower and set seed. 

For larger areas, applications of postemergence herbicides from late spring to early summer, such as dicamba, fluroxypyr, 2,4-D, triclopyr, and MCPP, can effectively control Black Medic. 

Sylvia Kiragu

Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.

insightweeds.com/

The post Medicago lupulina (Black Medic, Nonesuch, Hop Clover) appeared first on InsightWeeds.