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Weedsidentificationbook

Basketweed-

Averyfine-leafedcreeperthatisnormallyfoundinbuffalolawns.Typically,originatesaroundthelawnedgesandgrowsinshadedareas.

Alightcreeperwithwavyleaves

Frailstems-easilypulledfromthesoilasithasveryshallowroots.

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Bindii-

Afeathery-leafedweed:oftenconfusedwithCarrotWeed.

Theseedheadlookslikealittlecrownofthorns.Onceitreachesthisstage,it’stoolatetosprayandnewweedswillgerminatenextyear.

Theseed,itself,hasapricklewhichisloathedbyeveryAussiekidwithbarefeet.

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Buttercup-

Asmall,low-growing,creepingvinewithaverybrightyellowflowershapedlikearoundedvase.

Theflowerhasashiny,waxylooktoitwithfivepetals

Theleaveslookabitlikeparsleyleaves.

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Capeweed-

Alow-growingplantgrowingfromasingleclump.

OftenconfusedwithGazania

Thedaisy-typeflowerhasnumerouspetalswithabrightyellowcentrefadingtopaleyellowtowardsthetipofthepetal.

Theleavesarelongandnarrowwithdeeplobes,allprotrudingfromthecentreofaclump.

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CarrotWeed-

Asmallweedoftenconfusedwithbindii.

Astheygrow,theyformaleafheadlikeacarrot.

Squeezetheleaves-theysmelllikecarrot.

Theyhavesmall,whiteflowersforminganumbel.

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Catsear-

CommonlyconfusedwithDandelion.

Long,wirystemwithayellowflower.

Leaveslieflatagainsttheground.

Flowerlookslikeadaisywithdozensofbrightyellow,long,narrowpetals.

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CausticWeed-

Aprostrateplantgrowingclosetotheground.

Bluey-greenleaveswithreddishstems.

Thestemsexudeawhite,milkysapwhendamaged.

Leavesnormallyhaveasingle,dark,purplish-browndotonthem.

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Chickweed-

Adelicate,fleshy,annualherb.Edible.

Soft,fleshyleafwhichcomestoapoint.

Tinyflowerswithsmall,ellipticalpetals.Stamenshavepurpleanthers.

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Clover-

Acreeping,perennialplantwithtrifolate(threeleafed)leaves.

Excellentplantforproducingnitrogen.

Aballofbrightwhiteoflittlepetals

Leaveshavethreeoval-shapedleafletswithafadedwhite‘V’markingtheinternalpartoftheleaf.

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Crabgrass-

Creeping,softgrassgrowinginatuft

Thegrowthhabitissimilarinshapeasacrab.Hencethename.

Seedheadshavelong,slenderspikes,fanningoutlikefingers.

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CreepingCharlie-

Aperennialcreeperwitharomaticleaves,thrivinginshadedareas.

Canbeconsideredanaggressiveweedbutcanbeusedasasaladgreen.

Flowersarebluish-violettolavenderincolour,withlobedpetals.

Leavesaresmallwithlittlelobesontheperimeteroftheleaf.

Youwillalsonoticeaseriesoflittle‘veins’ontheleafsurface.

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CreepingOxalis-

Alow-growing,creepingplantwhichspreadsoverthegroundusingstolons.

Thestolons(stems)arelight(brittle)andfleshy.

Asmall,brightyellowflowwith5petals.

Theleafismadeupofthree(3)heart-shapedleaflets.

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Cudweed-

Asmall,clumpyweedeasilyidentifiablebyitstwo-tonedcolours.

Flowersarereddish-purpleincolourwithawoolly(furry)stem.

Leavesaregreenontopwithaverylightgreyunderneath.

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Dandelion-

Anedibleplantwithbrightyellowflowers.EasilyconfusedwithCatsearandSowThistle

ThestemisHOLLOWandexudesawhite,milkysapwhendamaged.(ThestemisthedefiningdifferencebetweenDandelionandCatsear).

Theflowersarebrightyellowwithmanyelongatedpetals.

Theseedheadisawhiteballof‘fluff’which,whendisturbedbywind,disperselittle‘parachutesofseed’.

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Dichondra-

Asmalllow-growingplantoftenfoundinlawns.

Growsoverthelawnlikeacarpet.

Theleavesarekidney-shaped,withafine,fleshystem

Averysmall,yellowy-greenflower

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Dock-

Anerectplantwithastrongstem,growingupto1500mminheight

Dockhasabroadleafwithroundedleaftips.

Flowersformalongclusterandcanbepinkish,reddishorbrownishincolour.

Theyhavedeeprootstostabilisethemastheygrowquitetall.

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Fireweed-

Apretty,daisy-likeplantwhichishighlytoxictocattle,alpacasandhorses.Alsoknowtokillgoatsandsheep.

Allpartsoftheplant,atallstagesofit’slifecyclearetoxic.

Flowerhasbrightyellowpetalswithamatchingyellow‘button’inthecentre.

Leavesarelongandnarrowwithlittlesaw-shapedteethonthem.

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Fleabane-

Agrey-green,erectplantwithlittlehairsgrowingoverit.

Leavesaretootheddownthesidesoftheleaf.

Fleabanedevelopsalargeheadofsmallflowers.

Flowersarenormallywhitebutcanhaveafleckofmauve.

Theplantseedsprolificallyandcanproduceover100,000seeds,makingitapest.

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Flickweed-

Asmall,herbaceousplantthatgrowsupto250mm.

Hasacentrecrownfromwheretheflowerstemscome.

Flowersarewhiteandcanhaveapurplytingeontheedgeswithgreencentres.

Fourpetalswhichcanlookwaxy.

Theleavesaredistinctive,withleafletsgrowingoneithersideoftherib.

Theleafletsarelobedandlooklikethey’vebeenshapedbyabiscuitcutter.

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GuildfordGrass-

ASpring-floweringherbwiththin,wiryleaves,growingupto25cm(10”)

Theflowerhassixpetalsrangingincolourfrompinktopurpleandisstar-shaped.

Ithasayellowcentre.

Theleavesaredarkgreenandverythinandwiry,notunlikeathickfishingline.

Canberemovedbychemicalcontrol.

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Henbit-

Thisplantcomesfromthemintfamily.Thestemsaresquareinshape,greentopurplishincolourwithveryfinehairs.

Chickenslovethisplant,hence,thename.

Theflowersareamauvetopinkincolourandresembleabutterflywithspots.

Theleaveshaveatoothededgewithfinehairsandpronouncedveins.

Asshowninthephoto,theleavesgrowoppositeoneanother.

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Hydrocotyl-

Acreepingweedthatspreadsthroughrunners(rhizomesandstolons).

Originally,consideredaweedofthewaterways,it’snowmadeit’swayintolawns.

Theplantlikeshadedareasbutwillgrowwellinfullsun.

Leavescanbekidneyshapedwithtoothededges.Theleafsurfacecanbeshinyasithasawaxyepidermis.

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Mallow-

Asprawlingweedwithaprostrategrowinghabit.

Theycangrowquitelarge-oftenupto2metresindiameter.

Theleavesareroundtokidney-shapedwithjaggededges.Theyaredullish,greenincolour.

Thestemjoinstheleafinthecentre.

Theflowerhasarangeofcoloursthatvaryfromwhitetopinktolightpurple.

Theynormallyhave5petalswiththetipsscallopedoutofthem.

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Medick-

Asprawlingweedwithaprostrategrowthhabit.IthasfinestemsandlookslikeOxalis.OftenconfusedwithCloverbecauseofit’sleafshape.

Ithasthreeseparateleafletsthatmakeuptheleafandarevery‘fleshy’totouch.

Theflowersaretinybutbrightyellowincolourandsotheystandout.

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Mouse-earedChickweed-

Couldn’tthinkofabetternameforaweed.

Aclumpingweedwithsmall,whiterflowerswhichispredominantinSpring.

Takeacloselookattheleaf.ItDOESlooklikeamouse’sear!

Itellipticalinshapewithfinehairsanddullgreenincolour.

Theflowershave5petalswithadeepcutinthetips.Theyareverysmall,andwhiteincolour.

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Moss-

Mossisaplantwithnoflowersorseeds.TheyareactuallycalledBryophytesandabsorbmoistureandlighttosurvive.

Asit’sanunwantedplantfoundinlawns,weplacedithere.

Theyhaveverysimpleleaveswithasinglelayerofcells.

Theyhavenoroots,assuch,butattachthemselveswiththehelpofrhizoids.

Theyhavenoflowersand,therefore,noseedsbuttheydohavesporeswhicharedispersedtoformnewplants.

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MullumbimbyCouch-

Agrass-typeplantwithglossyleavesandatriangularstem.

Theseedheadsitsatthebaseofthreeleavesatthetopofawirystem.Itlooksalittlelikeawindmill.

Theseedheadlookslikeanelongatedmace(aspikyclub)whichisgreenish-whiteincolour.

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NativeViolet-

Asmallcreeperthatgrowsfromthegardenedge.

Oftenpurchasedasagroundcoverwhich,ultimately,invadesthelawnarea.

Ithasaroundleafwithastemwhichadjoinsinit’scentre.

Dark,glossy-greenleaveswithaslightlysaw-shapedleafedge.

Theflowersarewhitewithasplashofmauvetopurpleinthecentre.

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Nutgrass-

Getsitsnamefromthelittlebrownnutsattheendoftheirroots.

It’saformofsedgegrass.

Longandslenderleaveswithadefinite,pronouncedribalongitsedge

Theseedheadisyellowish-whiteincolourandlooksspiky.

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OnionWeed-

ASpringfloweringbulbthatgrowsupthroughthelawnandflowers.

Theleavesarelongandstrappy,dullgreenincolour,‘fleshy’totouchwithapronouncedrib.

Theflowerhas6white,fragrantpetalsintheshapeofastar.Theseproduceseedsthathelptheplantspread.

Whenexhumed,youwillfindalargebulband,dependingontheageofthebulb,anumberofbulbletsattachedtoit.Theolderthebulb,themorebulblets.

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Oxalis-

Therearemanytypesofoxalisandnearlyallareconfusedwithcloversastheyhaveasimilarleaf.

Theyallhavelong,fleshystems.

Theleaveshave3lobesandthisisthereasonwhytheyareconfusedwithclovers.

Theflowershave5petalsandcanvaryincolourfromwhitetopinktopurpleoryellow.

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Paspalum

Alow-growingprostrategrassthatgrowsfromaclumpcrown.

Theflowersgrowhorizontallyfromthemainstemtoformsomethinglikeanantenna.

Thetiny,blackseedsarewithinthefruitsandcannumberintheirhundredsperplant.

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Pennywort-

Aramblingcreeperthatisdifficulttoremovewithoutprofessionalhelp.

Invadesgardenbedsandlawns.

Theleavesareroundwithastemthatisattachedtothecentreoftheleaf.

Whatmakesitdifficulttokillisitswaxyleafthatisimpervioustomostchemicals.

However,thereareacoupleofrestrictedherbicidesavailablethatwillhelpcontrol/eradicatethisplant.

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PettySpurge-

Anerect,palegreenherbthatlookslikeasmallbonzaitree.

Thestemenclosesamilkysapthatiscausticandcancauseskinirritation.Thesapisalsousedtoremovewarts.

Theleavesarefleshyandaconcaved(intheformofaspoon).

Theflowershavegreenish-yellowincolour.

AlsoknownasMilkweed.

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Pigweed-

AlsocalledPurslane.

Aclumping,prostrateplantthatspreadsfromacentrecrown.

Leavesareveryfleshywithreddishstems.

Theflowersareyellowwith4,5or6petals.

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Ribwort-

AlsoknownasPlantain.

Aleafyplantwithadeeptaproot.

Ithaslong,slightlyslender,ribbedleaves.

Thewholeplantiscoveredintinyhairs.

Theflowerformsattheendofalongstem.Thewhitepetalsarenotpetalsbutarestamens.

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Richardia-

Adullgreen,prostrateherbwithadeeprootsystem.

Leavesareovate(ovalwithapointedend).Dullgreen,incolourwithtinyhairs.

Theycanproduceaclusteroftiny,whiteflowerswhichhavesixpetalsshapedlikeasix-sidedstar.

Theyareprolificseedproducers.

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ScarletPimpernel-

Afleshyandfrail,spreadingherbwithorangeflowers

Theleavesformonasquarishstemwhichisdelicateandbreakseasily.Theleavesarelikea‘roundedtriangle’inshapeandfleshy.

Theflowersarebrightorangewithapurplishcentreandyellowstamens.

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ScotchThistle-

Atall-growingweedwithdeeprootsandCOVEREDinspines.

Flowersareurn-shapedandpurpleincolour.

Alsocoveredinspines.

Leavesareoblonginshapeandcangrowover30cmsinlength.

Theleafedgesare‘roundly-toothed’withspinesatthepointoftheteeth.

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SeasideDaisy-

Asprawlinggroundcoverthatencroachesfromgardenbedstoinvadelawnareas.

Thestemsandleavesarefleshy.

Theplantproducesthousandsoflittleflowerswhichofferconstantcolour.

Flowersrangeincolourfromwhitish,topinkandmauvetopurple.

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Sedge-

Sedgeisagenericwordthatcoversarangeofgrassesdeemedaslawnweeds.

Theyarebrightgreenincolourand,therefore,standoutfromothergrasstypesinmostlawns.

Theyspreadbyseed,stolonandrhizomeandcanbedifficulttoremove,althoughchemicalsareavailable.

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Shepherd’sPurse-

Anerect-growing,annualherbthatgrowsupto50cmsinheight.

Theflowersformatthetopofa‘raceme’(spike).Theyaresmallandwhite,incolour.

Theleavesareroundlyshaped,betteroftendescribedaslobed.

Theygrowfromacentralpointintheweed.

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ShiveryGrass-

Anerectgrowinggrassgrowingupto30cmsinheight.

Beingagrass,itdevelopsaheadofseedswhich‘shiver’inalightbreeze.

Theseeds,themselves,looklikeshellsandare,practically,see-through.

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SourSob-

AformofOxalis.Theseclumpingweedsareannualherbsthatemergeinearlyspring.

Theflowersaretuba-shapedandBRIGHTYELLOW.

Theleavesaretrifoliate-almostclover-like.

Theleaveshaveadistinctive,heart-shape,withblackdotsontheirleaves.

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SowThistle-

Atall-growingherbthatiserectingrowthhabit.

Ithasahollowstemwithamilkysap.

TheflowerslookverysimilartoaDandelion,withyellowpetals.Theseedcapsules,too,aresimilar.

Theleaves,however,aredifferent.TheSowThistlehasalobedleafedge,andeachlobeispointedwithasharptoothattheend.

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Speedwell-

Alow-lyingherbwhich,althoughcreeps,growsinaclump.

Theflowersarebluewithfourpetals.Eachpetalhasadistinctivesetofveinsshownbyadarkershadeofblue.

Theleavesareattachedtothestemandtheleafedgelookslikeacircularsawinshape.

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SummerGrass-

Thebotanicalnameforthisgrassis‘Digitaria’whichisLatinandmeans‘finger’.Itgetsthisnamefromit’sseedheads.

Thisgrasshasstemswhichspreadalongthegroundanddroprootseveryfewcentimetres.

Theseedheadsareshapedlikefingers,withsmallseedswhichhaveapurpleflecktothem

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Veldt-

Agrasswhichgrowsinaclumpbuthasanerectgrowthhabit.ConfusedALLTHETIMEwithWinterGrassbecauseitgerminatesatthesametime.

Veryshallow-rootingand,therefore,easilyhand-weeded.

Seedsgrowinahuskandhaveapurplish-brownbase.

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Vetch-

Thisisbestdescribedasaramblingvine.

It’saverydelicateplantandiseasilyremoved.

Theleafletsare‘sword-shaped’andeachleafmayhaveupto20leaflets.

Flowercoloursrangefromwhitetomauvetopurpleandevenpinkishred.

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WhiteRoot-

Thisisthe‘BUGGEROFALLBUGGERS’whenitcomestolawnweeds.

ExtremelydifficulttoremovebutCANBEERADICATED.

Theleafisgreenwithapurplish-colouredunderside.Theleafedgeisscalloped.

Thefloweriswhitebutissometimesseeninpink.

Ithasfivepetals,thethreelargeroneswhichpointtotheground.

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WinterGrass-

Atuftedgrasswhichstartsgerminatinginearlyautumn.

Itgrowsquickly,seedsquicklyandgerminatesquickly.

OftenconfusedwithVeldt.

Leavesareadark,richgreen.Therootsystemcanbetuftedandsometimeshardtopull.

Seedheadsarelightgreentogreyincolour.

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Cloverlookalikes.

Clover

Medick

Oxalis

Soursob

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Dandelionlookalikes.

Dandelion

Catsear

SowThistle

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