Table Of ContentA Colour Atlas of
WEED SEEDLINGS
A Colour Atlas of
WEED
SEEDLINGS
John B. Williams
Former ADAS Horticultural Publications Officer
Stratford-upon-Avon
John R. Morrison
Former Principal Photographer
Harpenden Laboratory
Cathy Wood
Illustrator
Boca Raton London New York
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Contents
Acknowledgements 6
Introduction 7
Five questions about a weed seedling 9
Cotyledons: quick guide
10
Young plants: quick guide
12
Galium aparine
Cleavers 14
Veronica hederifolia
Ivy-leaved Speedwell 16
Sinapis arvensis
Charlock 18
Raphanus raphanistrum
Runch (Wild Radish) 20
Lapsana communis
Nipplewort 22
Chamomilla suaveolens
Pineappleweed 24
Matricaria perforata
Scentless Mayweed 26
Aphanes arvensis
Parsley-piert 28
Capsella bursa-pastoris
Shepherd’s-purse 30
Papaver rhoeas
Common Poppy 32
Stellaria media
Common Chickweed 34
Bilderdykia convolvulus
Black-bindweed 36
Polygonum aviculare
Knotgrass 38
Polygonum persicaria
Redshank 40
Polygonum lapathifolium
Pale Persicaria 42
Fumaria officinalis
Common Fumitory 44
Chenopodium album
Fat-hen 46
Atriplex patula
Common Orache 48
Chrysanthemum segetum
Corn Marigold 50
Thlaspi arvense
Field Penny-cress 52
Spergula arvensis
Corn Spurrey 54
Solanum nigrum
Black Nightshade 56
Veronica persica
Common Field-speedwell 58
Viola arvensis
Field Pansy 60
Anagallis arvensis
Scarlet Pimpernel 62
Urtica urens
Small Nettle 64
Geranium molle
Dove’s-foot Crane’s-bill 66
Lamium amplexicaule
Henbit Dead-nettle 68
Lamium purpureum
Red Dead-nettle 70
Galeopsis tetrahit
Common Hemp-nettle 72
Senecio vulgaris
Groundsel 74
Myosotis arvensis
Field Forget-me-not 76
Euphorbia peplus
Petty Spurge 78
Aethusa cynapium
Fool’s Parsley 80
Sonchus spp.
Sow-thistles 82
Vicia spp.
Tare, Vetch 84
Epilobium spp.
Willowherbs 86
Cardamine hirsuta
Hairy Bitter-cress 88
Rumex spp.
Docks 90
Taraxacum officinale
Dandelion 92
Glossary
95
Index 9
6
Acknowledgements
Much help and encouragement have been given by
Mr PM Dawson, ADAS Publications Officer; by Mr
H A Roberts and Mrs J E Boddrell, National
Vegetable Research Station. Mr Roberts kindly
provided the data on the emergence of seeds from
the soil.
All the photographs of seedlings (except those of
common hemp-nettle) are by John Morrison.
Photographic prints by Mrs P Moody, Harpenden
Laboratory.
Line illustrations by Cathy Wood.
Photographs of adult plants (exceptions listed
below) are by John Williams.
Photographs of common hemp-nettle were kindly
supplied by ICI pic.
Photographs of flowering plants of hairy tare and
pale persicaria supplied by The Weed Research Or
ganization; of scarlet pimpernel, parsley-piert and
corn marigold by Mr W Bond, National Vegetable
Research Station.
6
Introduction
For the professional farmer, grower and consultant,
the ability to recognize weeds at the earliest two-leaf
(cotyledon) and young plant stage can give signifi
cant cost savings in herbicides. Weeds vary in their
susceptibility to different herbicides and this sus
ceptibility varies with stage of growth. Identification
at an early stage will allow you to choose the
cheapest spray to clean the crop effectively.
For the amateur gardener, weed identification is
born of curiosity although it is helpful to be able to
recognize the weeds when cleaning the flower and
shrub borders. Many of the farm weeds are common
in gardens but several are common in gardens and
rare in the fields; these too are illustrated.
Pages 10 to 13 show miniature photographs of the
common weeds 'at a glance'. These, together with
the notes on identification and the identification
drawings appearing at the top of left-hand pages,
should help the reader to find the right group of
illustrations quickly.
A glossary of terms used in the descriptions appears
on page 95.
7
Cotyledon
For a full glossary see page 95
Five questions about a
weed seedling
What do you notice first?
1 Is it large?
2 Is it very small?
3 Is the hypocotyllong; are the cotyledons carried
proud of the soil or do they lie close to it? What
colour is the hypocotyl?
4 Is there a distinct, peculiar shape to the cotyle
dons?
Pointed
Long and narrow
Oval.
5 Have the cotyledons peculiarities?
e.g. Backwardly directed lobes
Notched tips.
The order of the illustrations in the book follows this
order of awareness.
Notice too
1 Is there an outstanding colour?
e.g. Bright green
Purplish hues.
2 Are the cotyledons or true leaves (or both)
hairy?
The time of year can also help in identification;
many weed seeds germinate during a limited season.
Diagrams accompanying the sets of photographs
show times of year at which germination is most
likely to occur. These, and the extent of outbreaks,
will be affected by weather and cultivations.
9
