Weed Science - University of Wisconsin

Common Perennial Weeds in Pastures:
Characteristics and Pictures
Jerry Doll
Click on the images to see a larger view.
Canada Thistle
Canada Thistle flowering plant
Canada Thistle Leaves leaves are shiny, spiny and have no hairs
Canada Thistle Roots Canada thistle roots spread and send up new shoots from buds
Canada Thistle Flower Buds Canada thistle in the bud stage; flowers appear in 7 to 10 days
Canada Thistle Flowers Canada thistle plants have either male (left) or female (right) flower heads
Curly Dock
Curly Dock whole plant view; most leaves are at base of plant
Curly Dock Roots curly dock roots are branched taproots
Curly Dock Leaf there is a papery sheath (ochrea) at each leaf axil; leaves are very large with wavy edges
Curly Dock Seeds ripe plants are very attractive with the rusty colored seeds that stay attached to the flower stalk
Horse Nettle
Horse Nettle whole plant
Horse Nettle Stem stem and leaves with spines
Horse Nettle Roots roots are thick and deep
Horsenettle Fruit fruits are green in summer and yellow in fall
Horsetail
Horsetail field infestation; often in wet areas and near streams
Horsetail Leaves "leaves" arise at fixed points on the stems (whorled arrangement)
Vegetative Horsetail both vegetative (pine tree) and reproductive forms in a field
Reproductive Horsetail spore heads of reproductive form of horsetail
Hoary Alyssum
Hoary Alyssum usually found on light-textured soils
Hoary Alyssum Flowers hoary alyssum flowers have 4 deeply split petals
Hoary Alyssum Pods plant with flowers and fruits (pods); pods have a short "beak"
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