Download Broadleaf - Kelly Green Lawn Care

BROADWAY PESTS
Annual fleabane - has leaves that alternate,
and are simple, oblanceolate to linear. Annual
fleabane is similar to rough fleabane, but has
more leaves and is taller. The root of fleabane
is a taproot to fibrous. Annual fleabane has an
upright growth habit. Annual fleabane flowers
in the spring through the summer. Annual
fleabane's flowers consist of white ray flowers
with yellow centers (similar to a daisy), and
form in clusters. Annual fleabane reproduces
by seed.
Bedstraw - also called catchweed, is a winter
annual. The leaves of bedstraw are formed in
whorls containing 6 - 8 leaves around square
stems. The leaves are narrow to lanceolate in
shape with bristles along the edges. Spines at
the base of leaves allow bedstraw to cling to
objects. The stems of bedstraw are weak and
form mats of plants.
Hairy Beggarticks - is usually a warmseason annual. It spreads along the ground by
stems that root at nodes. The stems are
smooth and can be erect. The leaves initially
form on long stalks, but following leaves
contain up to nine leaflets. The leaflets can
have teeth on their margins.Hairy beggarticks
spreads by seed and by spreading stems when
acting as a short-lived perennial. The flower of
the hairy beggartick has a yellow center with
white rays. Flowers are produced until frost
occur. The seeds can attach to clothing and fur
on animals.
Creeping Beggerweed - is a perennial weed
that develops from a large taproot. Creeping
beggerweed has many branched runners
capable of rooting at nodes along the stems.
Leaves are composed of three leaflets of varying
sizes. The leaflets are elliptic in shape, pointed
at the tip and rounded at the base. Both the
stems and leaves are hairy. The flowers of
creeping beggerweed are pink to rose in color.
The fruit is composed of a segmented seedpod
with 6 segments that will separate and attach to
clothing. Creeping beggerweed spreads by seed,
stolons or segments of the taproot.
Field Bindweed - is a summer perennial
member of the morning glory family. The
leaves of field bindweed are arrowhead shaped
and appear alternately on long creeping stems.
Field bindweed has an extensive root system
which may extend up to 15 feet underground.
The flower of field bindweed are white to pink
funnel shaped approximately one inch across.
Field bindweed spreads by either seed or
rhizomes.
Birdsfoot Trefoil - is a perennial weed,
which has a low mat-forming growth habit. The
leaves of birdsfoot trefoil alternate on the
stems, forming in a trifoliolate pattern, but
containing 2 leaf lets at the base of the leaf. The
leaves are oblanceolate shape and usually have
smooth edges. The stems of birdsfoot trefoil are
square at the top and round at the base.
Birdsfoot trefoil has a tap root and develops
rhizomes and stolons. The flower of birdsfoot
trefoil is yellow and forms in the typical legume
shape. The plant flowers in late spring and
blooms throughout the summer. The seed pod
is cylindrical and shaped like a birds foot.
Birdsfoot trefoil usually spreads by seed that
germinates in the spring, but can also spread by rhizomes and stolons to form dense patches.
The top of the plant browns with frost in the fall and will die back to ground level. Birdsfoot
trefoil is often confused with large hop clover.
Black Medic - is normally a summer annual,
but can act as a perennial in some conditions .
It has a tap root, and spreads low to the
ground, but it does not root from nodes on the
stems. Black medic is more active on soils low
in nitrogen fertility. The leaf is similar to
clover and other legumes, having three
leaflets. Black medic's center leaflet is on a
separate petiole. The flower of black medic is a
compressed cluster of bright yellow flowers in
the shape of a globular spike on short
branches. The seed pod will turn black at
maturity. Black medic produces viable seed
under normal mowing conditions.
Bristly Mallow - is a creeping perennial with
shiny, light green leaves which alternate on the
stem. Bristly mallow will root at nodes along
the under side of the stems which appear as
knobs. The leaves are similar to Venice mallow,
but have more lobes on the leaf: six to seven
versus three to five on Venice mallow. The
margin of the leaves is toothed. Bristly mallow
has a deep strong tap root. The flower of bristly
mallow is an orange-red in color and appears in
late spring to early summer. The flower is cup
shaped and is located in the junction of the
stem and leaf. Bristly mallow spreads by seed
and by stoloniferous stems.
Broadleaf Plantain - is a shallow mostly
fibrous rooted perennial. The leaves which
develop in a rosette are large oval shaped with
predominant veins. Broadleaf plantain is
similar to several other plantain species, but
does not have the purple color at the petiole of
the leaves. The main growth period for
broadleaf plantain is from June through
September. The seed head is described as a
rat-tail like seed head with flowers along the
upper half of the seed head. Broadleaf
plantain spreads by both seed and shoots from
the roots.
Buckhorn Plantain - is a slender fibrous
rooted perennial. The leaves develop in a basal
rosette. They are long slender leafs
approximately one inch across. The leaves
have distinctive parallel venation. The main
growth period for buckhorn plantain is from
June through September. The seed heads are
cylindrical spikes found at the tip of erect,
leafless stalks which are 4 - 12 inches long. The
stalks can be hard to cut with mowers.
Buckhorn plantain spreads by seeds and
shoots from the roots.
Bull Thistle - is a biennial. It grows over the
summer months. The leaves are alternate;
blades are simple and form in a rosette. The
leaves are unlobed to pinnately lobed. The
bladetip is pointed and the margins are
toothed with spines. The root is a fleshly
taproot the first year and a fibrous root system
forms the second year. The second year of
growth, thistle stems elongate. The elongated
stems have alternating leaves. Flowers are
present from June through October on the
elongated stems. The disk flowers are dark
pink to purple with spined bracts. Bull thistle
spreads by seeds.
Burclover - is a perennial which is very
similar in appearance to black medic. It
contains a three oblong leaflets, the center
leaflet being on its own pediole. The leaflets
often have brown spots on the upper surface.
The flowers of burclover are yellow. Burclover
reproduces by seeds from "burred" seed pods
as well as spreading prostrate stolons which
allows bur clover to tolerate close mowing.
Lawn Burweed - (spurweed) is a low growing
winter annual which forms mats due to
branching. The leaves are opposite and divided
into narrow segments or lobes. The flowers are
small and inconspicuous. The fruit forms in the
leaf axils with sharp spines. Lawn burweed
reproduces by seed.
Virginia Buttonweed - is a prostrategrowing perennial with branching hairy stems.
The leaves are elongated, lance-shaped and
grow opposite one another on the stems and
are joined by a membrane. Virginia
buttonweed prefers moist, wet conditions. The
tubular flowers of Virginia buttonweed are
white to purplish, and grow in the leaf axis
along the stem. Flowers resemble four-pointed
stars. Virginia buttonweed spreads by seed and
plant segments.
Wild Geranium - also called Carolina
geranium, is a semi-erect winter annual. The
erect stems are branching and covered with
hair. The alternate leaves are on long petioles
and are divided into segmented leaflets which
are blunt toothed. The flowers have 5 white to
pink petals and form in clusters. The seed
forms in a fruit capsule that forms a "storks
bill".
Carpetweed - is a summer annual with
smooth prostrate branching stems forming
circular mats. The leaves are light green in
color, lanceolate in shape, being widest in the
middle of the leaf and narrow at the tip and
base. The leaves form in whorls containing 3 - 8
leaves. The flowers are white, contain five
petals, and form clusters of two to five flowers.
The clusters of flowers are formed in leaf axils.
Carpetweed spreads by seed.
Wild Carrot - or Queen Anne's Lace, is a
biennial. During the first year, lacy fern like
leaves develop in a basal rosette form. The
leaves are compound with multiple leaflets.
Wild carrot has a slender woody taproot. The
flowers of wild carrot are small and white. The
center flower in the clusters is first to bloom
and is usually purple. The flower forms in flat
umbrella shaped clusters, 3-6 inches in
diameter, called umbels. The hollow flower
stalks develop in the second year, and stand 2-4
feet high. Wild carrot reproduces by seed.
Chamber Bitter - is a warm season annual.
The stems of Chamber Bitter are upright and
grooved. The leaves are small and have
smooth margins which are arranged
oppositely on branchlets. Flowers are
inconspicuous and form in warm weather. The
fruit of Chamber Bitter is green and form on
the underside of the branchlets. The seed
explodes and spread seeds in the surrounding
area. Chamber Bitter reproduces from seed.
Chicory - is a summer perennial that
develops from a basal rosette. chicory looks
similar to dandelion in the rosette form, but
the lobes of the leaves are not opposite like
those of dandelion. The lobes of dandelion also
point toward the base. The flowers of chicory
range from bright blue to purple in color. The
flowers form on stems that range up to three
feet in height. The flowers form from June to
October. chicory reproduces by seed.
Common Chickweed - is a shallow fibrous
rooted winter annual which grows in moist
shaded areas. The leaves are small, smooth,
pointed at the tip and elliptic in shape. They
are opposite on branching creeping stems,
which root at the nodes. Chickweed adapts
well to different mowing heights. The flowers
of common chickweed are white small star like
with 5 notched petals. Common chickweed
spreads by seed.
White Clover - is a shallow rooted winter
perennial legume which spreads by stolons or
above ground runners. The plant takes root
from the stolons at nodes along the stems when
they come in contact with the soil. The white
clover plant has compound leaves divided into
three leaflets which are all joined at a central
point and originate at the nodes along the
stems. Leaves may contain a white 'watermark'.
White clover is adapted to many soils but tends
to grow best in soils that are moist and low in
nitrogen.
Common Mullein - also called woolly mullein
due to the grey hair that covers its leaves, is an
erect biennial most commonly found in
pastures and along roadsides. Common mullein
will invade landscape beds. Common mullein
grows to height of three to six foot tall the
second year, emerging from a basal rosette
which forms from seed the first year. Leaves are
elliptic to oblanceolate, covered with gray
woolly hair and spiral alternately around an
unbranched stem, decreasing in size near the
top. Common mullein has a fleshy taproot. The
five-petaled flowers of common mullein can be
yellow or white. Flowers emerge near the top of
the plant where they are crowded along the
stalk. Fruit form from October to March in ovoid capsules which split in half to release several
seeds. Common mullein spreads from seed.
Prickly Lettuce - also called wild lettuce or
compass plant, is a winter annual. The leaves
form in a basal rosette. Prickly lettuce has a
deep tap root which will exude a milky sap.
Prickly lettuce will produce an upright stem on
which the leaves will be alternate. The mature
leaves are deeply lobed. The leaves will twist
vertical to the stem. The leaves have a row of
spines along the mid-vein of the lower surface.
The flowers of prickly lettuce are yellow in color
and approximately one third of an inch in
diameter. Flowers are produced in late spring
to early summer. Prickly lettuce reproduces by
seed.
Corn Speedwell - is a winter annual that
germinates in mid-fall. Speedwells have a short
tap root to fibrous root systems and branching
upright stems. The lower leaves are near round
with toothed margins. The upper leaves are
more pointed. The plant is covered with fine
hairs. Corn Speedwell flowers are small and
white to blue in color. The flowers are found in
the leaf axis and the seed develops into a
distinctive heart shape.
Creeping Woodsorrel - is similar to yellow
woodsorrel (Oxalis stricta), but is a creeping
summer perennial. The leaves of Creeping
Woodsorrel are deeply lobed, heart shaped, and
may be green to reddish purple. Creeping
Woodsorrel contains a slender taproot, and
roots at nodes along slightly hairy stems. The
flowers of oxalis corniculata are yellow, contain
5 petals, and form in clusters of 1 - 5 at the end
of slender stems. Creeping Woodsorrel spreads
by seeds.
Crimsom Clover - is a cool-season annual. It
grows to a height of 12 - 20 inches. The leaf of
crimson clover is about the size of red clover. It
is light green in color and covered with soft
hair. The trifoliolate leaves are usually
unmarked but can sometimes contain a few
dark-red spots. The plant generally has minimal
branching. The flower is a showy
crimsom/burgundy flower. The flower head is
approximately one inch in length and consists
of 40 - 50 individual flowers. Crimsom clover
spreads by seed which is produced during the
spring to early summer.
Cupid-Shaving-Brush - is a warm season
invasive exotic annual. The stems of Cupidshaving-brush are upright, pubescent at the
base and smooth at the top. The stems can
reach a height of 12 - 18 inches. The leaves have
toothed margins and are mainly basal. Leaves
that form on the upright stems alternately.
Basal leaves have petioles, whiles the leaves
that form on the stems contain no petioles, are
wider at the base and clasp the stem. Cupid'sshaving-brush forms from a tap root. Flowers
are formed in warm weather. The flowers are
bright red to crimson or scarlet. The flower
forms on long stems and contain 2 - 3 heads on
each flower stalk. Cupid's-shaving-brush
reproduces from seed.
Curly Dock - is a winter perennial. It contains
a deep fleshy tap root. In a turf situation the
leaves appear in a rosette form. The leaves are
actually alternate at the top of the tap root. The
oblong leaves have a wavy appearance on their
edges. The flower of curly dock is almost never
found in mowed turf situations. The flower are
long green spikes which turns reddish brown
on maturity. The flower grows 2 - 3 feet in
height and appears from April to July. Due to
the lack of viable seed in turf areas, curly dock
spreads by root fragments.
English Daisy - is a perennial whose leaves
form a basal tuft or rosette. English daisy has a
prostrate or spreading growing habit. The leaf
texture varies and may be smooth or hairy.
Leaves are narrow at the base and slightly
lobed. The English daisy flower is typical of
daisies, with white petals and yellow centers,
although flowers are sometimes a pink or rose
color. Plants have 3 - 4 inch flower stalks. The
flower stalks are generally longer than the
leaves; stems are smooth and leafless and
support a single flower. English daisy
reproduces by seed.
Oxeye Daisy - is a perennial weed. The stems
grow erect and can range in height from 10 - 24
inches. Oxeye daisy initially forms a rosette.
The basal leaves are hairless, lobed or toothed
on the margin When the stems form, the leaves
form alternately and decrease in size higher up
on the stem. Oxeye daisy spreads by both seed
and by short rhizomes. It forms in clumps or
patches. The roots are fibrous along with the
short rhizomes. White flowers are produced
from June through August. The flowers from in
a composite shape with white ray flowers
surrounding yellow disk flowers. The upper stems
usually die back over the winter, but basal leaves
may remain green in milder climates.
Dandelion - is a winter perennial. The
dandelion has thick fleshy tap root which often
branches. New plants come from the root and
root segments. Leaves form in a rosette, are
deeply lobed, with the lobes pointing toward
the base. Both the leaves and flower stems
contain a white milky fluid. The flowers are
yellow and are individual stems. The seeds are
brown with tip containing white hairs. The
yellow flower will turn to a white globular puff
ball. The seeds are disseminated by wind.
Dandelions spread by both seed and stems
from the root.
Spreading Dayflower - is an annual with
multiple branches that spreads by taking root
from nodes along stems. Stems are smooth
with lance shaped leaves in sheaths having a
few soft hairs. Flowers have three blue petals,
two of which are partly fused. Flowers last one
day, giving the plant its common name.
Dayflower reproduces from seed and from
nodes along stems. Stem fragments will also
reproduce. Dayflower prefers rich, moist soil
conditions.
Purple (or red) Deadnettle - is a winter
annual often confused with henbit (Lamuim
amplexicaule). Both weeds have square stems
and belong to the mint family. The leaves of
purple deadnettle are triangular in shape and
less deeply lobed than henbit. The upper leaves
of deadnettle are red to purple in color. The
leaves of purple deadnettle have petioles with
the petioles of the lower leaves being longer
than the upper leaves. The flowers of purple
dead nettle are light purple in color. The flowers
are arranged in whorls and form in the axis of
the upper leaves. Purple deadnettle spreads by
seeds.
Dodder - an annual plant that consists of thin
thread-like stems that are orange in color
which attach to a host plant, belongs to the
dodder (cuscutaceae) family, which includes
many species. At one time dodder was
classified in the morning glory family. Dodder
is a true parasitic plant. Unlike other parasitic
plants such as mistletoe, which have green
leaves, only extract water and nutrients from
host plants. Dodder has no leaves and must
extract carbohydrates from the host plant.
Dodder produces small clusters of white to pink
flowers in the early summer. Dodder spreads
primarily by seeds which have the capability of
surviving in the soil up to sixty years. When
dodder seed germinates, establishment is
dependent upon host plant availability. If a host plant is not within 1 - 3 inches of the initial
germinating seed the seedling will die. When the dodder seedling emerges, it develops a small
ineffective root which can support the seedling for only a couple of days. Upon germination, the
small dodder seedling sways around in search of the host plant. When a host plant is contacted,
the dodder coils around the host in a counter-clockwise direction. Small sucking appendages
called "haustoria" are produced that penetrate the host plant and extract food. Once the
haustoria begin to extract food, the small initial root dies. Dodder can grow up to 3 inches per
day and continually produces new haustoria to drain the host plant of nutrients.
Dog Fennel - is a short-lived summer
perennial. The leaves of dog fennel are divided
into thread-like segments, giving a fern like
appearance. The leaves will omit a foul odor.
The stems of dog fennel are reddish in color,
hairy and arise from a woody base. The flowers
of dog fennel are small and white in color. The
flowers are numerous and are borne on
branched panicles. Dog fennel spreads by seed,
and regrowth from the woody base.
Pennywort - also called dollarweed, is a
summer perennial weed. The leaves of
pennywort are round in shape, approximately 1
inch in diameter. The dark green leaves are
glossy, with scalloped edges and are on long
slender petioles. The petiole of pennywort is
attached to the center of the leaf, not to be
confused with dichondra in which the petiole is
attached to the edge of the kidney shaped leaf.
The pennywort flower is small with 5 white
petals and forms in clusters on the end of long
stems. Pennywort spreads by seed and
rhizomes.
Dovefoot - geranium is a biannual plant very
similar to the annual Carolina geranium.
Dovefoot geranium has slender, weak hairy
stems which branch and spread across the
surface of the soil. The leaves are palmately
lobed. The alternating rounded leaves of
dovefoot geranium are not as deeply cut as the
leaves of Carolina geranium. Dovefoot
geranium spreads by seeds which germinate in
fall into the early spring. Bright dark pink to
red violet flowers are present in late spring.
The seeds of dovefoot geranium are smooth,
unlike the wrinkled seeds of Carolina
geranium. Flowers of both plants are borne on
stalks from the upper nodes. The fruit of both
species are born on conspicuous stalks (cranesbill). The fruit stalk of dovefoot geranium is ¼
inch long and is much smaller than the ½ inch fruit stalk of Carolina geranium.
Field Madder - is a prostrate growing winter
annual. Due to its growth habit, mats are
formed in the turf. The leaves form in whorles
around the stem which is square. The leaves
are pointed and elliptical in shape. Field
madder spreads by seed which is produced in
flowers at the tip of the stem. The flowers are
pink to lavender in color and occur in the
spring.
Field Pennycress - is a annual or winter
annual weed. Field pennycress initially grows
in a basal rosette, but has a erect flowering
stem. The auricles at the base of the leaf are
pointed. A similar species, throughwort
pennycress has rounded auricles. Basal leaves
do not remain when the plant matures and the
seed stem is produced. Field pennycress
spreads by seed. The flowers of field pennycress
are white and produced in dense racemes. The
seed pods (silicles) are produced along the
flowering stem. They are distinctly winged with
a notch at the tip.
Filaree - are winter annual members of the
geranium family. Filaree has a shallow coarse
tap root. The feather like compound denselyhaired leaves form from a prostrate basal
rosette. The leaves consist of 5 - 9 opposite
leaflets which are deeply cut. The leaves of
white stem filaree are broader and the leaflets
are less deeply cut than red stem filaree. Stems
are also hairy, grow low and spreading. The
flowers of filarees form umbrella shaped
clusters which are pink to purplish in color and
contain 5 petals. Filaree reproduces by seed.
Florida Pusley - is a summer annual found
most often in warm season turfgrass areas. The
leaves can be hairy and are grow opposite one
another on hairy stems. The growth of Florida
pusley in maintained turf areas is usually low
and prostrate to the ground, forming thick
patches. The growth can be erect with
infrequent mowing. Florida pusley usually will
not root at the nodes. The flowers are white and
grow in clumps at the end of the stems. The
flower is star shaped with six parts connected to
form a tube. Florida pusley will flower anytime
the temperature is above freezing.
Yellow Foxtail - is a summer annual which
germinates when soil temperatures reach 65
degrees F. The leaves are rolled in the bud. The
ligule is a fringe of hairs, and the auricles are
absent. The collar is narrow and continuous.
The blades of yellow foxtail contain hairs near
the ligule. The growth habit of yellow foxtail is
erect. The seedhead is a bushy, erect spike
which resembles the tail of a fox.
Wild Onion and Wild Garlic - are both
winter perennials. The leaves are waxy, upright
and needle shaped growing 8-12 inches long.
The leaves of wild garlic are hollow and round
and have a strong odor. The leaves of wild
onion are solid and flat and appear directly
from the bulb. Both plants grow from
underground bulbs. The membrane-coated
bulbs of wild garlic are flattened on one side
and have bulblets. Wild onion bulbs are white
inside with a strong odor and are covered with a
fibrous, scaly coat.
Ground Ivy - is a creeping winter perennial.
The leaves are round to kidney shaped with
round toothed edges. The leaves are opposite on
long petiole attached to square stems that root
at the nodes. It is usually found in moist shaded
areas, but also tolerate sun very well. Ground
ivy will form dense mats which can take over
areas of turfgrass. The flowers of ground ivy are
blue to lavender and grow in clusters. It usually
flowers in the spring. The flowers are funnel
shaped and are located at the leaf axis or near
the tip of the stem. Ground ivy spreads by
stolons and sometimes by seed. Ground ivy
closely resembles common mallow.
Common Groundsel - is a winter annual
member of the aster family. Groundsel has a
taproot with a secondary fibrous root system.
The sparsely hairy leaves are alternate on
upright , many branched stems. The lower
leaves are wavy margined to deeply lobed
margins. Upper leaves are stemless and
coarsely toothed to irregularly lobed. The
flowers heads of common groundsel are
composed of several yellow disk flowers.
Common groundsel is a prolific seed producer.
Seeds are produced within several weeks of
groundsel germinating, resulting in several
generations within the same year. Groundsel
reproduces by seed.
Hairy Bittercress - is a winter or summer
annual depending on its location. It initially
forms a basal rosette. The initial true leaves are
heart shaped, followed by leaves which contain
2 - 4 alternating leaflets. The surface of the
leaves is often hairy. Hairy bittercress forms
stems that are smooth and erect, usually
branched at the base with few leaves. Hairy
bittercress spreads by seed. The seed capsule is
up to 10 times longer than it is wide. The
capsules will project the seeds when disturbed.
Hairy bittercress can have multiple generations
per year.
Yellow and Orange Hawkweeds - The
vegetative characteristics are similar, but the
color of the flowers is different. Hawkweeds are
winter perennials. Hawkweed grows from a
basal rosette, forming patches from rhizomes
and stolons. The leaves, stems and flower stalks
are covered with hair. The leaves are oblong
and club shaped. The margins of the hairy
leaves are smooth. Hawkweed flowers resemble
dandelions, but are smaller and appear several
weeks after dandelions. The flowers form in
clusters.
Henbit - a member of the mint family, is an
upright winter annual that blooms in the
spring. The leaves are rounded on the end with
rounded toothed edges that grow opposite one
another on square stems Upper leaves lack
petioles. Henbit can grow from 4 to 12 inches
tall on weak stems. Although an upright plant,
weak stems sprouting from the bottom may lay
almost horizontal. Henbit can be confused with
purple deadnettle. The leaves of purple
deadnettle, however, are more pointed at the
end and are slightly scalloped. The lower leaves
of purple deadnettle are on long petioles, the
upper leaves are on short petioles. The flowers
of henbit are purple, tubular shaped and form
in the whorls of the upper leaves. Henbit spreads only by seed and is generally not a problem in
dense, vigorous turfgrass sites.
Yellow Thistle - is a winter annual or
sometimes a biannual. The initial leaves form
in a rosette. The mature leaves contain large
toothed and cut lobes. The mature leaves are
very spiny. Yellow thistle spreads by seeds
attached to tuffs of soft white hairs which help
in the spreading of the seeds. The flowers are
produced in the late spring and seeds are
produced over the summer.
Horsenettle - is a erect perennial weed. The
leaves of horsenettle alternate on stems that
contain spines. Horsenettle leaves range up to
seven inches in length and 1 - 2 inches wide
with wavy to coarsely lobed edges. The veins of
the leaves as well as the petioles contains
spines. Horsenettle spreads by rhizomes and
seeds. The flowers of Horsenettle are purple to
white in color and occur in clusters on spiny
flower-stalks. The anthers of the flower are
yellow. Flowers occur during the summer. The
fruit is smooth globe shaped; the size of a
marble. Fruits are light green in color with
green coloring, but turn yellow at maturity.
Horsetail - is a perennial weed with deep
spreading root stock. Horsetail is most noted by
it's jointed stems which are hollow and will pull
apart at the joints. The leaves are small and
scale like. They are located at the joints on the
stems. Horsetail is found in moist soils along
streams, ponds, roadsides and low areas in
fields. Horsetail forms dense patches of stems
that persist throughout the winter. Horsetail
spreads by underground root stock and spores.
Horsetail is found throughout the summer
months.
Horseweed - is an annual weed, winter or
summer, depending on location. Horseweed is
an upright growing plant and can reach 4 - 5
feet if not mowed. Horseweed grows in a basal
rosette. The leaves which are oblanceolate in
shape are 3 - 4 inches in length. The leaves
alternate and have margins that are toothed.
The stem of horseweed is simple and
unbranched, and covered with hair. Horseweed
has a taproot. The inflorescence is a panicle of
heads with pink to white flowers. Horseweed
spreads by seed produced in the summer.
Khakiweed - is a annual or perennial,
depending on the location, which develops
from a thick tap root. The stems of khakiweed
are covered with hair. Khakiweed has a
prostrate growth habit. The leaves of
khakiweed form opposite and are round to
oblong with the tip being the widest part.
Khakiweed reproduces from seeds. The flowers
are white and form in stiff spiny heads,
solitarily, or in groups of 2 to 3. The flowers
form at the nodes. Flowering occurs during the
summer months.
Prostrate Knotweed - is a summer annual,
which forms dense patches. Prostrate
knotweed is probably the earliest of the
summer annuals to germinate in the spring.
Prostrate knotweed is often confused with
first-leaf crabgrass. Prostrate knotweed is a
prostrate weed that produces a thin tap root
and multiple branched stems. Even though
knotweed does not root down at the nodes of
the stems, a single plant can form a dense
mass up to three feet across. Prostrate
knotweed tolerates extremely compacted soils
and is often found in high traffic areas. The
leaves appear alternately on the stems, and
differ in the color of green depending on the
age of the leaf, with older leaves being a less intense green. The stems will be knotty and have a
paper like sheath.
Lambsquarter - is an erect summer annual.
The leaves of lambsquarter are lanceolate in
shape, approximately 1 - 2 inches in length
and about 1 inch wide. The edges of the leaf
are toothed and the leaf tip is pointed. The
leaves are covered with a white mealy
substance, especially on the underside of the
leaf. The leaves form alternately on the stems.
The root of lambsquarter is a branched
taproot. The flowers of lambsquarter are
found in small green clusters and lack petals.
The clusters of flowers form in terminal
spikes. Lambsquarter spreads by black seeds
that germinate in the late spring to early
summer.
Common Lespedeza - is a prostrate
growing summer annual. Three oblong,
smooth leaflets, all joining on a common
petiole, have a prominent mid-vein. Stems are
wiry, prostrate and freely branching. The
flowers of common lespedeza are pink to
purple and are found in the leaf axils.
Lespedeza is commonly found on soils with
low fertility.
Venice Mallow - is a summer annual. It was
introduced from Europe where it was grown as
an ornamental. Venice mallow has an upright
growth habit and can reach 10 - 18 inches in
height. The stems are erect, covered with hairs
and branch from the base. The leaves are
deeply cleft into 3 - 5 coarsely toothed lobes
and form on long petioles. The lower stems and
petioles can be a red to purple in color. Venice
mallow has a fibrous root system with a weak
taproot. The flower of Venice mallow is very
showy and are a light sulfur-yellow color with a
deep red to purple center. Venice mallow is
nicknamed "flower-of-an-hour" because
flowers will only last several hours before the
petals drop. Venice mallow spreads by seed. The seeds can lay dormant for up to 50 years.
Matchweed - also called mat lippia, is a matforming perennial with opposing leaves on
hairy branching stems. Leaves have small teeth
at the outer tip. The purple to white flowers
emerge around the tip of the seed stalk forming
a match-head appearance. Matchweed spreads
by both seeds and stolons along prostrate
stems.
Moss - is a primitive plant; most species are
perennial. Moss has a filamentous growth
pattern and produces a felt-like mat over the
soil surface. This moss mat can become thick
under good growing conditions. There are two
main groups of moss species. The first contains
chlorophyll and grows on the soil surface; the
second lacks chlorophyll and spreads
underground. These groups can be divided
again by their growth habits. Moss is different
from higher plants such as turfgrass, because it
does not contain conductive tissue and lacks
phloem and xylem. Due to not having
conductive tissue, moss also lacks true roots,
but absorb moisture and nutrients through root
like structures called rhozoids. Leaves of most
moss species are only a few millimeter long and lack petioles.
Nimblewill - is a perennial grass that browns
in the winter. Nimblewill produces short
stolons, but no rhizomes. The leaves are rolled
in the bud, the ligule is short, membranous,
toothed at the top, and auricles are absent. The
leaf blades are narrow and white-green in
color. Nimblewill forms patches and is fairly
tolerant of shade. The seed head is a loose
spike-like panicle.
Yellow Woodsorrel - also known as Oxalis, is
a summer annual, that can be perennial in some
areas. Yellow Woodsorrel grows on weak stems
that branch at the base and may root at the
nodes. The leaves form in groups of three
leaflets on long petioles, and are alternate on
the stems. Although sometimes mistaken for
clover when not in flower, the leaves differ from
clover in that they are distinctly heart shaped.
The Yellow Woodsorrel flower is yellow with
five petals and occurs in clusters. The seed pods
range from 1/2 - 1 inch in length, have 5 ridges
and are pointed. Yellow Woodsorrel spreads by
seeds which burst from the pods at maturity
and may be scatted several feet.
Paleseed Plantain - is a winter annual,
sometimes a biannual. The leaves form in a
basal rosette. The leaves are oblanceolate in
shape, usually having smooth edges, soft hairs
and ranging from 2 - 4 inches in length.
Paleseed plantain forms a taproot. Paleseed
plantain spreads from seed that is produced
from flowers present in late spring. The
seedhead is formed in a rat tail shape similar to
broadleaf plantain.
Parsley-Piert - is a low growing winter annual.
The fan shaped hairy leaves alternate on the
stems. The leaves contain three lobes and each
lobe is subdivided again into 3 - 4 lobes. The
flowers are inconspicuous in the leaf axis.
Parsley-piert spreads by seed.
Pineapple Weed - is a summer annual. When
the plant is crushed, it has the odor of a
pineapple. The hairless leaves are divided into
very narrow segments, and are arranged
alternately on the stems originating from a
taproot. The plant has a bushy growth habit
resulting from branching from lower stems.
Flowers which are yellow in color are produced
from May through August. One to several
flowers are produced at the end of short stems.
Pineapple weed spreads by seed.
Poison Oak - is identified by 1 ½ to 3 inch
long leaflets with two to seven deep lobes
resembling oak leaves. Lateral leaflets appear
without stalks on viny stems about 3 to 4 feet
tall. Like poison ivy, leaflets are grouped three
per leaf, and flowers are yellowish.
White Prairieaster - as well as purple aster
and hairy golden aster, is a perennial weed
which can reach 1/2 to 2 feet tall in non-turf
situations. Purple aster and hairy golden aster
reproduce by seed only; white prairieaster,
however, also reproduces by creeping
underground roots. Some asters have more
sparse or dense hairy leaves and may be fleshy
or firm with a linear lance shape. Stems have
many branches. Flowers of asters are clustered
at the ends of the branched stems and appear
from July through October. Asters, especially
white prairieaster, can become a competitive
problem in turf areas where soil conditions are
moist, especially in heavy clay soils.
Puncture Vine - is a summer annual. The
leaves are opposite and even-pinnately
compound composed of 8 - 16 hairy leaflets.
The stems are prostrate mat forming
originating from a taproot. The flowers are
solitary, consisting of 5 yellow petals, and are
found in the leaf axils. The fruit which
contains 1 - 4 seeds contains 2 - 4 spines.
Puncture vine spreads by seed which can
remain viable for years.
Purslane - is a summer annual with prostrate
growth from a tap root and fibrous surface
roots. The leaves are thick and waxy,
resembling a Jade plant. The leaves usually
alternate, with a cluster at the tip of the stem.
Stems are thick, red in color, and branch out
from a central point, forming a mat up to 1 foot
in diameter. The flower is solitary, yellow in
color and has 5 petals. The flower is found in
the leaf axis or at the tip of the stem. Purslane
flowers from May to November and spreads by
seeds, which germinate in the spring, or by
stem fragments.
Rabbitfoot Clover - is a winter annual.
Rabbitfoot clover has a multi-branched growth
habit. Both the stems and leaves are densely
haired. The leaves consist of 3 narrow leaflets
with minute teeth-like projections at the tips.
The flowers of rabbitfoot clover are small pink
to purple and are clustered in grayish soft-silky
cylinder-shaped heads. Rabbitfoot clover
reproduces by seed, and flowers in the spring.
Red Sorrel - also referred to as sheep sorrel, is
a summer perennial. The leaves alternate and
form a basal rosette. The older leaves are
arrowhead shaped with two basal lobes
attached to a petiole. Leaves formed along the
stem are more elongated and usually lack the
basal lobes. The margins of the leaf are smooth.
The leaves become thick and fleshy over the
summer months. The root red sorrel is a
shallow yellow taproot, combined with multiple
rhizomes. Flowers are produced from May to
September. Male and female flowers are
produced on separate plants. The male flowers
are yellow-green and the female flowers are
reddish-brown. The flowering stems of red
sorrel can be one or many developing from a crown or rhizome. Red sorrel spreads by seeds and
rhizomes.
Sandbur - is a summer annual grass.
Sandbur forms clumps due to lack of rhizomes
and stolons, but can root at nodes on the stems
if they touch the ground. The leaves are folded
in the bud, the ligule is a fringe of hairs,
auricles are absent. The plant turns brown in
winter. The seedhead of sandbur consists of a
spike like raceme containing spined or burred
seeds. The seeds catch on clothing or animal
fur.
Virginia Pepperweed - or peppergrass, is a
winter annual. The lower leaves of Virginia
pepperweed form from a basal rosette, and are
deeply lobed. The stem of Virginia pepperweed
is erect and freely branched. The mature plant
does not contain any basal rosette leaves, and
the leaves on the stem are alternate and more
lanceolate than the basal leaves. The flower of
Virginia pepperweed is produced from May
through early summer. The flowers are white
and form in a finger-like cluster or bottle-brush
at the top of the plant. The seeds of Virginia
pepperweed germinate in late summer or early
fall. Limited germination occurs in the spring.