It can be easily identified by its tangled and dense climbing or creeping vines and showy white to pink funnel-shaped flowers. 

Convolvulus arvensis Classification

• Domain: Eukaryota
• Kingdom: Plantae
• Phylum: Spermatophyta
• Subphylum: Angiospermae
• Class: Dicotyledonae
• Order: Solanales
• Family: Convolvulaceae
• Genus: Convolvulus 
• Species: Convolvulus arvensis
• Varieties:  C. arvensis f. arvensis,  C. arvensis var. Hastulatus Meisn, C. arvensis var. angustatus Ledeb,  C. arvensis var. crassifolius Choisy, C. arvensis var. Linearifolius Choisy,  C. arvensis var. Sagittifolius Turcz,  and C. arvensis var. villosus Choisy.
• Common Names: Morning glory, Field morning-glory, European bindweed, Lesser bindweed, Small bindweed, Chardvel, White convolvulus, and Creeping jenny. 

Nativity and Distribution

Field bindweed is native to Europe and Asia. Today, it is found in most parts of the world including:

• Africa
• Australia
• South America

Physical Characteristics

• Leaves: Simple glabrous or pubescent with entire margin
• Fruits: Light brown, 5-10mm long capsule
• Stems: Slender climbing or creeping vines
• Flowers: 10-25mm wide, funnel-shaped, white or pink flowers
• Roots: Vertical taproot and lateral roots.

Convolvulus arvensis is a herbaceous perennial plant. It can be easily identified by its tangled climbing or creeping vines and showy white to pink funnel-shaped flowers. 

Stems are slender, green with red hues, glabrous or finely pubescent, and can trail or grow up to 150 cm with support. They are flexible to allow anticlockwise twining on support plants, allowing them to grow and spread.

The leaves are alternate, glabrous or pubescent (may have scattered hairs) with an entire margin. Leaf blades vary in shape, from lanceolate, or ovate to narrow-oblong and are about 1.5-6 cm wide and 1.2-10 cm long. 

Flowers are 2.5-3 cm wide, white or pink, funnel-shaped, with 5 pubescent lobes. The heads are borne in clusters at the end of the stems or on the leaf axils. They open in the morning and close in the evening. Flowering occurs between June and August. 

The seeds are dark brown to black, 3-5mm in diameter, with two flat sides and one round side. 

Reproduction, Dispersal, and Life Cycle

• Life Cycle: Perennial
• Seeds: Can produce 25-500 seeds
• Climate: Temperate, tropical, and mediterranean climates 
• Dispersal: Water, animals, and agricultural activities

C. arvensis behaves as a perennial and reproduces by seeds and underground rhizomes. A single plant can produce between 25-500 seeds. 

Seeds germinate on the soil surface or in shallow soil (to a depth of 6cm). Seeds at greater depths remain viable for over 20 years. They are widely dispersed by water, birds, and contaminated agricultural equipment, seeds, and soil. 

Field bindweed is also propagated by underground rhizomes that spread in all directions, readily giving rise to new fragments once cut or broken. 

In competitive environments, the weed uses its twining habit to ascend over other plants, giving it access to sunlight that aids in survival and reproduction.

Similar Plants

• Convolvulus siculus
• Convolvulus farinosus
• Convolvulus sagittatus
• Polygonum convolvulus 
• Calystegia sepium

Uses

1. It has been used as a traditional medicine to treat spider bites.
2. Tea made from the leaves is used to treat fevers and wounds.
3. Its stems are used to make ropes. 
4. It is used to make green dye.
5. It is used to add flavoring to liqueur.
6. The weed has been used in preventing soil erosion and as ground cover due to its extensive root system. However, these uses are highly discouraged due to the plant’s invasive nature. 

Impact on Farms and Environment

C. arvensis is a serious weed in cropping systems. It not only competes for important resources but also chokes crops, leading to reduced yields and subsequent economic losses.

It negatively affects annual crops like corn, wheat, rice, soybeans, and chickpeas. It also causes serious problems in horticultural farms.

Apart from competition for resources, the weed can also hamper crop harvesting as the desirable plants get entangled in the twining vines. Field bindweed also harbors dangerous viruses like tomato spotted wilt virus and potato X virus which can cause significant crop loss. 

Additionally, the weed contains alkaloids that can cause gut problems to cattle and horses if ingested in large quantities.

Due to its rapid growth and climbing habit, field bindweed is considered a noxious weed in many states in the United States and Australia. It is also listed as a noxious weed in other countries like Kenya and Tanzania. 

The weed can rapidly outcompete native vegetation and decrease biodiversity, severely altering habitats.

Control

• Cultural control: Grazing
• Mechanical control: Deep cultivation and mulching
• Chemical control: Herbicides like Dicamba, 2,4-D, Picloram, and Glyphosate

Repeated grazing of sheep and cattle can help limit the spread and provide long-term control of field bindweed on farmlands. However, excess consumption of the weed can harm the animal’s health and extra caution is required.

Thorough and persistent cultivation when the stems emerge has been shown to successfully control the weed. Deep cultivation (up to 7.5-10 cm) eradicates the stems and the resilient root fragments. 

Applying a 2-3 inch layer of mulch on desirable plants in gardens can help block out sunlight, limiting the weed’s growth and spread. 

Numerous herbicides can provide better C. arvensis control. They include Dicamba, 2,4,-D, Picloram, and Glyphosate. Consult an expert for more information on the right herbicide application for your crop or garden plants.

Several biological agents have been released for field bindweed control including the gall mite, Aceria malherbae and stem-boring fly Melanagromyza albocilia. However, the results are inconsistent and require more research and monitoring. 

Sylvia Kiragu

Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.

insightweeds.com/

The post Convolvulus arvensis (Field Bindweed) appeared first on InsightWeeds.

The good news is you can eliminate these weeds, but only if you know what you’re dealing with. 

In this article, we’ll look at 10 of the most common weeds you’re likely to find in Kansas and the best ways to eradicate them. 

1. Field Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis)

• Local Name: Small-flower bindweed, Creeping jenny, Possession vine
• Family: Convolvulaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial

Field bindweed is a perennial vining plant that grows up to 2m tall. It produces simple, alternate green leaves about 5 cm wide and 10 cm long. 

The slightly hairy smooth stems twine or lie prostrate on the ground, forming a dense cover. 

Field bindweed produces funnel-shaped white to pink flowers about 2.5 cm wide.

It is native to:

•  Europe 
• Asia

Removal Methods

• Pulling: Hand-pulling is adequate for small patches of young plants. 
• Natural Methods: Natural remedies like vinegar-dish soap, solarization, and boiling water can eradicate small infestations.
• Herbicides: Apply herbicides with glyphosate, picloram, 2,4-D, and quinclorac to eradicate the weed. 

2. Musk Thistle (Carduus nutans)

• Local Name: Nodding Thistle
• Family: Asteraceae
• Annual or Perennial: Biennial, winter annual, or perennial

Musk Thistle is primarily a biennial plant that sometimes behaves as a winter annual or a short-lived perennial. The herbaceous flowering plant grows up to 2m tall. 

During the first year, it produces basal leaves that form a rosette and can vary in diameter. The leaves are lanceolate to broadly elliptic and waxy, with whitish and spiky margins. The upper leaves are lanceolate and alternately arranged on the erect stems that emerge from the basal rosette.

Musk thistle produces solitary flowerheads made up of pink to purplish slender disk florets. The head (seemingly “nodding” at maturity) is about 3-7 cm wide and, depending on the size, can produce up to 10,000 seeds by mid-summer. 

It is native to:

• Europe
• Asia

Removal Methods

• Digging: Dig up the plants (at least two inches below the ground) with a spade or shovel. Alternatively, cut the flowers and burn them to prevent resprouting. 
• Mechanical Control: Repeated mowing in the late blooming stage can help reduce seed production. 
• Herbicides: Apply herbicides like dicamba, 2,4-D, picloram, and metsulfuron-methyl to actively growing plants for effective control.
• Biological Control: Introducing the rosette weevil can provide a long-term approach to musk thistle control. The results are typically observed 6 to 10 years after release. 

3. Sericea Lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata)

• Local Name: Chinese bush-clover
• Family: Fabaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial

Sericea lespedeza is a perennial herbaceous flowering plant that grows up to 1.5 m tall. It produces green to ashy green leaves about ¼ inch wide and 1 inch long. 

The leaves are wedge-shaped, hairy, and alternately crowded along the woody stem. Sericea lespedeza produces bell-shaped short clusters of white to creamy flowers with purple markings in the upper axils.

It is native to: 

• Asia

Removal Methods 

• Mechanical Control: Mowing the plants at the flower bud stage for 2-3 consecutive years will help reduce the spread. Late spring-controlled burning followed by intensive grazing with mature cattle can also help control the weeds.
• Chemical Control: The most effective treatment for this weed is a herbicide combination of triclopyr and fluroxypyr. Other effective herbicides include pre-emergents like imazapic and aminocyclopyrachlor.
• Integrated Management: Combining two control methods, such as a summer spraying followed by controlled burn or vice versa, can provide quicker and more effective results. 

4. Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense)

• Local Name: Johnsongrass
• Family: Poaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Johnsongrass is perennial clumping grass with upright stems that grow up to 2.5 m tall. It produces simple green leaves about 1-4 cm wide and 20-90 cm long. 

The leaf blades are flat, drooping, and hairless (although it can be hairy near the base of the leaf) with a prominent white midrib. 

The weed produces open, oval to oblong panicles containing yellow to purple paired spikelets about 1 cm long.

It is native to:

• Mediterranean Region of Europe
• Asia Minor

Removal Methods

• Pulling: For small infestations, pull out individual plants and ensure that you uproot all the rhizomes and remove them from the area.
• Mechanical Control: Repeated tillage can help prevent rhizome development. Grazing can also help minimize the spread of the grass.
• Herbicides: Apply Roundup to actively growing foliage for effective control.

5. Bur Ragweed (Ambrosia grayii)

• Local Name: Wooly Leaf bursage
• Family: Asteraceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial

Bur ragweed is a perennial herbaceous plant that grows 30-60 cm tall. It produces greenish-gray leaves about 5 cm long. The leaves are broadly ovate, long-petioled, and alternately arranged on the stem. 

The weed produces inconspicuous flower heads with male flowers in the terminal racemes and solitary female flowers in the leaf axils. The heads mature into spiny burs about 0.3-0.6 cm long.

It is native to:

• West-Central part of the United States including, Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas.

Removal Methods

• Chemical Control: Repeated applications of herbicides like dicamba, 2,4-D ester, glyphosate, imazapic, and picloram are effective in bur ragweed control.  

6. Henbit (Lamium amplexicaule)

• Local Name: Henbit
• Family: Lamiaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual and sometimes biennial

Henbit is an annual (and sometimes a biennial) broadleaf weed that grows close to 15 inches tall. It produces simple heart-shaped leaves about 1.5 cm wide and 1.5 cm long.

The upper leaves are hairy on the upper surface with scalloped edges and oppositely arranged on the square greenish-purple stems. The lower leaves are sessile or clasping, while the upper leaves have subtending flower clusters.

Henbit produces pinkish-purple tubular-shaped flowers about 2 cm long. 

It is native to:

• Asia
• Europe
• Northern Africa

Removal Methods

• Pulling: Hand pulling or hoeing is adequate for removing small populations of henbit.
• Herbicides: Apply a pre-emergent herbicide containing dithiopyr or prodiamine in late summer or post-emergence herbicides containing dicamba, mecoprop-p, and 2,4-D. 

7. Common Chickweed (Stellaria media)

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

Common chickweed is a cool-season annual that grows 5-15 cm tall. The low-growing weed produces bright green, simple, oppositely arranged leaves about 0.3-2.5 cm wide and 3-4 cm long.

The oval-shaped leaves are slightly wide at the base, with an acute tip and toothless margin. Common chickweed blooms small white flowers with star-shaped petals about 1cm wide.

It is native to:

• Europe
• Asia
• North Africa

Removal Methods

• Natural Methods: Home remedies like vinegar, vinegar-dish soap solution, and boiling water can help control the weed.
• Mechanical control: Hand pulling and hoeing can help eradicate small infestations or young plants.
• Mulching: A 2-3 inch layer of organic mulch such as wood chips, pine bark, or rice hulls can help prevent germination. 
• Herbicides: Apply a post-emergent herbicide like prodiamine to prevent germination. You can also apply post-emergence herbicides with products like dicamba, fluroxypyr, or MCPP.  

8. Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)

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

Dandelion is a perennial weed that grows up to 30 cm tall. It produces dark green leaves about 1-7 cm wide and 5-30 cm long. 

They emerge from a deep root system, forming a crowded basal rosette. The leaves are oblong and lanceolate, with lobed margins pointing towards the stem.  

The weed produces solitary yellow flowers with 100-300 ray florets and grows on hollow stems about 7-30 cm tall. The flowers mature to become puffballs of parachute-like seeds.

It is native to:

• Europe 
• Asia

Removal Methods

• Mechanical Control: Hand pulling can be effective in eradicating small infestations. You can also use special dandelion digging tools to remove the weeds.
• Lawn Maintenance: Regular mowing, fertilizing, and mulching can discourage weed growth.
• Natural Methods: Spray vinegar-dish soap solution or boiling water to kill the weeds.
• Herbicides: Apply a selective herbicide containing dicamba, 2,4-D or non-selective herbicides with glyphosate to eradicate dandelions.

9. Barnyardgrass (Echinochloa muricata)

• Local Name: Long Barnyard grass
• Family: Poaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual

Barnyardgrass is an annual grass that grows up to 1.5m tall. It produces green flat leaves about 0.5-2.5 cm wide and 10-20 cm long. 

The leaves are narrow at the base with conspicuous mid-vein and have wavy-toothed margins. Barnyard grass produces green flower heads and rough seeds with tiny bristles pointing toward the plant tip.

It is native to:

• Europe 
• South Asia

Removal Methods

• Cultural Control: Maintaining a healthy lawn through regular mowing and fertilizing will discourage growth.
• Herbicides: Apply a pre-emergent herbicide containing clomazone, dithiopyr, and siduron or post-emergent products with glyphosate, quinclorac, or fenoxaprop to eradicate the grass weed.

10. Green Foxtail (Setaria viridis)

• Local Name: Green bristlegrass
• Family: Poaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual

Green foxtail is an annual clump-forming grass that grows up to 70-120 cm tall. It produces green leaves about 4-25 mm wide and 3-30 cm long.

The leaves are flat or folded, smooth to slightly rough, and tapered to long points. The weed produces upright, cylindrical panicles about 2 cm wide and 2-3 cm long at the tip of the stem, with numerous branches bearing 5-6 spikelets.

It is native to:

• Asia 
• Europe 
• North Africa 

Removal Methods

• Cultural Control: Early seeding and fertilizing to maintain a lush and healthy lawn will help outcompete the weeds.
• Mechanical Control: Tillage, rotary hoeing (using rotary tine to dig the soil), and flame torching can help control green foxtail.
• Herbicides: Apply a pre-emergence herbicide containing pendimethalin or post-emergence products containing quinclorac or glyphosate to eradicate green foxtail.  

Sylvia Kiragu

Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.

insightweeds.com/

The post List of 10 Most Common Weeds You’re Likely to Find in Kansas appeared first on InsightWeeds.

As such, Maine has many common weeds, ranging from garden weeds to invasive plants in crop fields, roadsides, and undisturbed areas.

You must first learn to identify these weeds to deploy the right control measures to fight them. 

Below is a list of common weeds in Maine, their photos, identifying features, and top ways to eradicate them. 

1. Canada Thistle (Cirsium arvense) 

• Local Name: Canadian thistle; Creeping thistle; Cursed thistle 
• Family: Asteraceae 
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Canada thistle (California thistle, corn thistle, field thistle, or prickly thistle) is a rhizomatous herbaceous plant that grows to 0.3-1.5m tall. 

It has slender, grooved stems that are smooth or occasionally covered with soft hairs. 

The leaves are dark green, oblong, alternately arranged, and directly attached to the stems. The basal leaves reach 12-20cm long. 

They also have lobed or toothed margins, short white hairs on the underside, and sharp, prickly spines along the margin. 

The plant produces several attractive purple flowers that bloom at the top of branching stems. The flowers are tubular and covered with green bracts with hints of purple with weak spines. 

It is native to: 

• Europe
• Western Asia
• Northern Africa

NOTE: Despite the name, Canada thistle is not native to Canada. Instead, it is a widely distributed species in the North American region. 

Removal methods 

• Mechanical control: When the soil is moist, you can hand-pull or dig out young plants. Repeated tillage, mowing, and cutting can prevent seeding, reducing and eventually eradicating infestations. 
• Chemical control: The plant can be eradicated with selective herbicides like 2,4-D, MCPA, dicamba, Bentazon, Clopyralid, chlorsulfuron, and dichlobenil. Non-selective herbicides like glyphosate are also very effective for large infestations. 

2. Bird Vetch (Vicia cracca)

• Local Name: Cow vetch; bird vetch; tufted vetch; boreal vetch
• Family: Fabaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Bird vetch is a perennial climbing plant that can grow to 1m (sometimes 2m) tall. 

Its weak, hairy stems have noose-like branched tendrils that fasten around other plants for support and can easily suffocate smaller plants. 

It has gray-green, alternate, and pinnate leaves. Each leaf has 8-12 pairs of small (5-10mm long) ovate leaflets with short hairs, a smooth margin, and a rounded to abruptly pointed tip. 

The plant produces conspicuous, pea-shaped violet flowers, which grow in clusters (one-sided) along a raceme that rises out of the leaf axils in the upper stems. 

It also bears a flattened pea pod containing 2-8 round or oval-shaped seeds. 

Vicia cracca is native to Asia and Europe. However, it is widely distributed worldwide, including in North America. 

Removal methods

• Mechanical control: Hand-pulling and regular mowing when the plants are young can prevent seeding. When performed regularly, these practices can diminish small infestations. 
• Chemical control: Systemic herbicides like glyphosate and clopyralid effectively eradicate bird vetch. Other effective herbicides include 2,4-D and triclopyr. 

3. Spiny Sowthistle (Sonchus asper)   

• Local Name: Spiny sowthistle or Spiny-leaved sowthistle
• Family: Asteraceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual

Spiny sowthistle (prickly show-thistle, rough milk thistle, or sharp-fringed sow thistle) is an erect, annual (sometimes biennial) plant that can grow 100-150cm tall. 

It has green to reddish, stout stems, which are hairless, hollow inside, and release a milky sap when broken. 

Sonchus asper has glossy, bluish-green leaves that are simple, alternately arranged, lanceolate in shape, and lobed with margins. 

The leaf blades can reach 10 inches long by 3.5 inches wide and are covered with spines at the margins and the undersides. 

The plant produces gold to yellow flowers that emerge from the leaf axis at the tip of the stem. Each flower head contains several yellow ray florets with no central disc. 

It is native to: 

• Europe
• North Africa
• Asia 

Removal methods

• Mechanical control: Small infestations can be pulled out by hand when the plants are young and before seeding. Repeated mowing, tillage, and cutting shoots can prevent seeding and overwhelm spiny sowthistle. 
• Chemical control: The weed can be eradicated using various chemical herbicides, such as 2,4-D, diuron, isoxaben, atrazine, glyphosate, Picloram, oxyfluorfen, paraquat, and others. 

4. Field Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) 

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

Field bindweed (creeping jenny or perennial morning glory) is a rhizomatous climbing or creeping plant that grows to 0.5-2 meters long. 

It has weak, intertwining stems that are usually prostate, creating a thick ground cover. 

Convolvulus arvensis has arrow-shaped, spirally arranged leaves attached to the stems by a short petiole. The leaf blades are 2-5cm long and have a lobed base, pointed tip, and an entire margin. 

It also produces showy, white (or pink) trumpet-shaped flowers that bloom in the summer. 

The flowers have two tiny bracts with a smooth surface (or fine hairs) and resemble those of true morning glory, hence the common name. 

Convolvulus arvensis is native to Europe and parts of Asia. However, it is a widely distributed species in North America. 

Removal methods

• Mechanical control: Small patches of young plants can be pulled out by hand. Repeated cutting can also control the plant and gradually diminish the infestation. 
• Natural control: Natural remedies like solarization, boiling water, and vinegar-soap solution can be effective against small patches of young plants. 
• Chemical control: Glyphosate is the most effective method of eradicating field bindweed. Other effective herbicides include dicamba, 2,4-D, Picloram, paraquat, and quinclorac. 

5. Cypress Spurge (Euphorbia cyparissias)

• Local Name: Cypress spurge; Graveyard moss; Graveyard weed; Bonaparte’s crown
• Family: Euphorbiaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Cypress spurge is a low-growing perennial herb with erect stems reaching 20-40cm in height. It has branching stems and can spread aggressively using a rhizomatous root system, forming a thick, bushy ground cover. 

It has narrow (4cm long by 1-2mm wide), needle-like, blue-green leaves arranged in a spiral pattern around the stem. The leaves have an entire margin and, when broken, release a milky sap toxic to the skin. 

The plant produces showy, bright yellow flowers that bloom in clusters at the stems tips. Each flower has two yellowish-green, round to heart-shaped bracts resembling petals. 

Euphorbia cyparissias is native to Europe. It was introduced to North America as an ornamental plant but is now considered a noxious invasive species in many regions. 

Removal methods

• Mechanical control: Hand-pulling or digging out is effective when dealing with small, new infestations. The soil should be moist for the best results, and protective equipment should be worn to protect against the toxic milky sap. 
• Cultural control: Cultural practices like mulching, proper fertilization, and keeping desired plants healthy can control or prevent Cypress spurge infestation.  
• Chemical control: You can eradicate the weed using chemical herbicides like 2,4-D, dicamba, and quinclorac (applied at the flowering stage) or Picloram (applied at full bloom or during the re-growth stage). 

6. Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) 

• Local Name: Purple Loosestrife
• Family: Lythraceaea
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Purple loosestrife (purple Lythrum or spiked loosestrife) is an erect-growing perennial herb that can reach 0.5-2.0m in height. It has four-angled, smooth, or hairy stems and a strongly developed taproot system. 

The plant has simple, opposite, lanceolate, dark-green leaves with an entire margin. The leaf blades are stalkless and grow to 3.8-10.2cm long. 

From mid-late summer, the plant produces attractive, deep pink, purplish flowers that form in clustered spikes at the tip of the stems. Individual flowers have about 5-7 tiny petals and 10-14 stamens. 

It is native to: 

• Europe
• Asia
• North Africa
• Australia 

It was introduced in North America as an ornamental plant and accidentally through contaminated soil used for ship ballast. 

Removal methods

7. Common Yellow Woodsorrel (Oxalis stricta) 

• Local Name: Yellow woodsorrel; common yellow oxalis; lemon clover
• Family: Oxalidaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial (sometimes annual) 

Common yellow woodsorrel is perennial and grows up to 23cm tall. It has several smooth (or slightly hairy) stems that emerge from the base of the plant and can either grow upright or sprawl on the ground. 

It has light-green alternately arranged trifoliate leaves that resemble those of clover. Each leaflet is heart-shaped, about 2cm wide, and folds upward in half during the night or when stressed. 

The plant has bright yellow flowers with five petals that form an open cup shape. From mid-spring to fall, the flowers bloom individually or in small clusters of up to five. 

It also bears capsule fruits that look like tiny okra pods, which are hairy and ribbed. The pods open up explosively when mature, dispersing tiny, brown seeds. 

It is native to: 

• North America 
• Europe 
• Asia

Removal methods

• Mechanical control: Young plants can be hand-pulled or dug up before seeding. This should be done when the soil is moist to ensure complete plant removal, including the root rhizomes. 
• Chemical control: It can be eradicated using post-emergent herbicides like glyphosate, sulfentrazone, isoxaben, flumioxazin, and indaziflam. Pre-emergent herbicides can also prevent the emergence of new plants from the seeds or rhizomes. 

8. Annual Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia)

• Local Name: Common ragweed; short ragweed
• Family: Asteraceae 
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 

Annual ragweed (common ragweed, bitterweed, hay fever weed, or blackweed) is a summer annual plant that grows up to 6 feet tall. It has erect, branching, hairy, light pink to red stems. 

It has compound, fern-like, toothed, and deeply lobed leaves that measure about 4-10cm long. The leaves, oppositely arranged on the stem, are hairy when young but become smooth as they age. 

From late summer, the plant starts producing inconspicuous green flowers in slender, long spikes that turn yellowish or brown. 

The male flowers release massive amounts of tiny yellow pollen that causes hay fever. 

It is native to: 

• Canada 
• U.S.A
• Alaska
• South America (Brazil, Paraguay, Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, and Argentina)
• Cuba
• Jamaica
• Hispaniola 

Removal methods 

• Mechanical control: Hand-pulling or digging can be effective for small patches, but it is best done when the plants are young and before seeding. Repeated tillage (before seeding) can also control the spread of the weed. 
• Biological control: Ophraella communa and Zygogramma suturalis, two species of ragweed leaf beetle, have been used to control common ragweed with very positive results. 
• Chemical control: Herbicides like glyphosate, Metsulfuron, and glufosinate can eradicate the crop. However, repeated applications may be necessary when dealing with large infestations. 

9. Hairy Galinsoga (Galinsoga quadriradiata) 

• Local Name: Shaggy soldier 
• Family: Asteraceae 

Hairy galinsoga (shaggy soldier or Peruvian daisy) is an annual herb that grows 10-60cm tall. It has upright, branching stems, which are covered by dense hairs. 

Its leaves ovate, oppositely arranged along the stem and with coarsely toothed margins. The leaves, like stems, are covered with dense hairs, giving them a velvety appearance. 

The plant produces small flower heads that form at the tip of the stem from the leaf axils and can bloom in a clustered pattern. 

Each flower head has a central disc of yellow florets surrounded by 4-5 white ray florets. 

Galinsoga quadriradiata is native to Mexico. However, it is widely distributed in several other places, including: 

• North America
• South America
• Europe
• Asia 

Removal methods  

• Mechanical control: Hand pulling and digging out can be effective for small patches of young plants. However, removed parts of the plant must be disposed of carefully as Galinsoga can re-root from cut stems. 
• Cultural control: Cultural practices like crop rotation, use of cover crops, and mulching can help control the spread (or prevent encroachment) of the weed, but they cannot eradicate it. 
• Chemical control: Galinsogacan can be eradicated using post-emergence herbicides like glyphosate, glufosinate, and diquat. Pre-emergence herbicides like flumioxazin and isoxaben can also control new germinations.  

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

• Local Name: Shepherd’s purse 
• Family: Brassicaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 

Shepherd’s purse is an aggressive-growing annual plant in the mustard family that reaches 10-50 (and occasionally 70cm) in height. Its slender, green to purplish stems are covered by gray hairs. 

The basal leaves of Shepherd’s purse grow in a rosette pattern (reaching 3-15cm long by 4cm wide), while upper leaves are arranged alternately on the stem. 

The leaf blades are hairy and can be round to oval-shaped, smooth, toothed, or deeply lobed on the edges. 

The plant produces small flowers with four rounded white petals and six yellowish-green stamens at the center. 

The flowers bloom in clusters at the tip of the stems and later develop into flattened, triangular, heart-shaped seed pods containing several tiny seeds.  

Capsella bursa-pastoris is native to Europe and parts of Asia. However, it is widely distributed worldwide, including in North America, South America, Asia, Africa, the Mediterranean, and Australia. 

Removal methods 

• Mechanical control: Hand-pulling and cultivation are effective on young plants before they seed. 
• Cultural control: Mulching, crop rotation, and planting competitive beneficial crops can control the spread of Shepherd’s purse. 
• Chemical control: It can be eradicated using post-emergent herbicides like Bentazon, flumioxazin, glyphosate, diquat, and flumioxazin. Pre-emergent herbicides like oxadiazon, pendimethalin, and oxyfluorfen can control new germinations. 

11. Quackgrass (Elymus repens)    

• Local Name: Couch grass; Quickgrass; Witchgrass
• Family: Poaceae 
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Quackgrass is a perennial grass with rhizomatous roots that can grow to 40-150cm tall. It can be easily identified by the claw-like auricles that clasp around the stem. 

It has alternate, ascending leaves that reach 12 inches long and 10mm wide. The leaf blades are flat, stiff, pointed at the apex, and sometimes covered with hairs on the upper surfaces. 

The grass produces clusters of flowers that form on a single, erect spike at the tip of the stems. 

Each spikelet is about 2-8 inches long and has two rows of greenish-blue flowers that turn into a tan straw color when dry. 

It is native to: 

• Europe
• Asia 
• Northwest Africa
• The Arctic

Removal methods 

• Mechanical control: When the soil is moist, young plants can be pulled from the ground (before seeding). Mature plants can also be dug out (from the rhizomes) using gardening tools, but this is very labor-intensive. 
• Cultural control: Mulching, maintaining healthy lawns or beneficial crops, re-seeding of lawns, proper fertilization, and planting of cover crops can control the spread of Quackgrass.
• Natural control:  You can kill infestations of Quackgrass by covering them with a plastic mulch or repeatedly burning them. 
• Chemical control: It can be eliminated using glyphosate, atrazine, imazapyr, and grass-selective herbicides. 

You can check out our quackgrass elimination guide for more methods in detail.

12. Lambsquarters (Chenopodium album) 

• Local Name: Lambsquarters; White goosefoot  
• Family: Amaranthaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 

Lambsquarters is a fast-growing plant in the Amaranth family that reaches 10-150cm in height. It has upright reddish to purplish stems with streaks of green that can be covered with sparse hairs. 

It has dull green-bluish leaves that are toothed, opposite or alternately arranged, and varying in shape from triangle to diamond or lance-shaped. 

The leaf blades vary in size, reaching 2-14cm long by 1-6cm wide, with the basal leaves larger than the upper ones. 

The plant produces inconspicuous green flowers that bloom in clusters at the top of the stems. The flowers do not have petals and are covered with a powdery coat, just like the leaves. 

Chenopodium album is native to Europe and Asia. It is also widely distributed worldwide, including in North America and countries like Nepal and India, where it is cultivated as a food crop. 

Removal methods

• Mechanical control: You can hand-pull young plants before they start seeding. Repeated light tillage and cutting to the stem can also control the weed and eventually overwhelm the seed bank. 
• Cultural control: You can control (but not eradicate) weeds through cultural practices like mulching, planting cover crops, and maintaining healthy, beneficial crops. 
• Chemical control: Herbicides like 2,4-D, Aminopyralid, Chlorsulfuron, glyphosate, Hexazinone, imazapyr, paraquat, Picloram, and triclopyr are very effective at eradication. 

13. Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) 

• Local Name: Giant hogweed; Giant cow parsnip 
• Family: Apiaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Giant hogweed is a perennial (sometimes biennial) herbaceous plant that grows 2-5m tall. Its hollow, green stems with purple specks are covered with coarse white hairs. 

Its leaves are alternately arranged, with deep, irregular lobes and sharp, toothed margins. The leaf blades are large and can reach 1-1.5m long when mature. 

The plant produces several tiny, clustered flowers at the stem’s tip, forming a compound umbel. The umbels are large, with each one reaching up to 2.5 feet wide. 

Giant hogweed produces a clear, toxic sap, which reacts with sunlight when exposed to the skin, causing painful blisters. Therefore, despite its attractive flower blooms, it is one of the most noxious weeds in Maine. 

The plant is native to some parts of Europe and Asia but widely distributed worldwide, including North America, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. 

Removal methods

• Mechanical control: Repeated cutting and mowing can prevent new seed formation and overwhelm the plant, depleting the seed bank and stored root reserves. However, this increases the risk of contact with the toxic sap. 
• Cultural control: Sheep and cattle like grazing on the plant, and repeated intense grazing can overwhelm it, reducing infestation. 
• Chemical control: Herbicides like glyphosate and triclopyr can eradicate giant hogweed. However, repeated treatments are needed to eliminate infestations. 

14. Curly Dock (Rumex crispus) 

• Local Name: Curly dock; Curled dock; Yellow dock; Sour dock; Narrow dock
• Family: Polygonaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Curly dock is a perennial flowering plant that grows to 1.5 meters tall. It has upright, grooved stems with swollen nodes and hairy sheaths that form around the nodes. 

It has large, dull-green basal leaves that can grow to 14-24cm long and are lanceolate with curvy margins. Conversely, the upper leaves are smaller, alternately arranged, and attached to the stem by a long petiole. 

The plant produces clustered flowers at the tip of the stem, which tower over the foliage. The flowers, which lack petals, are greenish but turn reddish-brown when mature. 

Rumex crispus is native to Europe and Asia. However, it is widely distributed in temperate regions of the U.S.A. and Canada. 

Removal methods

• Manual control: Hand-pulling or digging out with gardening tools can effectively deal with young plants. However, the entire plant must be removed from the taproot, or it will regrow. 
• Mechanical control: Repeated tillage, mowing, and cutting down the plant to the roots can prevent new seeding and gradually reduce the infestation. 
• Cultural control: Mulching, improving draining, crop rotation, and planting cover crops can help control the spread of curly dock. 
• Chemical control: Curly dock can be eradicated using various herbicides, such as 2,4-D, Aminopyralid, clopyralid, dicamba, Picloram, triclopyr, glyphosate, chlorsulfuron, Hexazinone, and sulfometuron.  

15. Common Buttercup (Ranunculus acris) 

• Local Name: Common buttercup; Tall buttercup; Tall crowfoot
• Family: Ranunculaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Common buttercup is a perennial herbaceous plant that grows 30-100cm tall. Its green, hairy stems are hollow and heavily branched at the top. 

It has mid-green, hairy leaves divided into 3-5 lobes, each with a toothed margin. The leaves are large, reaching 4 inches long and 6 inches wide. 

The plant bears showy, glossy yellow flowers that form at the tip of the stem, rising from the leaf axils. Each flower has five to seven yellow petals and numerous yellow stamens at the center. 

Although common buttercup is easy to spot in Maine, it is native to: 

• Europe
• Far East Russia
• Greenland
• Aleutian Islands

Removal methods 

• Mechanical control: Hand-pulling and digging can control small patches of Ranunculus acris. Frequent mowing and cutting the stems to the roots can reduce the weed’s vigor and prevent new seeding. 
• Chemical control: It can be eradicated by spraying with herbicides like glyphosate, MCPA, Metsulfuron, dicamba, and aminopyralid. However, several treatments might be required to eradicate the weed, including its seed bank. 

Sylvia Kiragu

Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.

insightweeds.com/

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