Seeds of Michigan Weeds

Part 3

Chapter 33,316 wordsPublic domain

=Cow-herb.= _Saponaria Vaccaria_ L. Seed dull, jet-black, slightly roughened by great numbers of minute points, nearly spherical, 2.3 mm. in diameter. An annual very troublesome in spring wheat. Introduced from Europe.

=Sleepy Catch-Fly.= _Silene antirrhina_ L. Flowers pink; seeds lead-color, slightly flattened, circular to short-kidney-shaped, each side covered with 5-6 curved rows of pointed tubercles giving the appearance of having two blunt extremities bent together, .5-.7 mm. across. Compare seeds with those of _Arenaria_ above described. When in flower, two of the upper internodes are glutinous. Only found on thin soil.

=Forked Catch-fly.= _Silene dichotoma_ Ehrh. Seeds reddish-brown, flattened, the three sides and the corners rounded, thickest at one corner narrowing to the side opposite; seed scar in the middle of the narrow side, four curved rows of tubercles on either side of the seed extending to the scar, diameter 1.3 mm., the thick edge concave, containing 6-7 rows of tubercles.

=Bladder Campion.= _Silene latifolia_ (Mill.) Britton & Randle. _Silene_ (Moench) Garcke. Flowers white; pod covered by an inflated calyx, seeds dull grayish brown, flattened, wedge-shaped, oval or 3-sided, 1-1.7 mm. across, 5-7 curved rows or tubercles on each side. Naturalized from Europe.

=Night-flowering Catch-Fly.= _Silene noctiflora_ L. Flowers white; seeds dull grayish brown, very slightly flattened, oval or short kidney-shaped, nearly 1.5 mm. across, with 8-10 curved rows of tubercles on each side. Naturalized from Europe.

=Spurry.= _Spergula arvensis_ L. Flowers white; seeds jet-black, except a narrowly winged, light-colored margin, slightly flattened, circular in outline 1-1.5 mm. across, with a slight notch on one side, surface often sprinkled with delicate, fragile, light-colored prickles. Introduced from Europe. Thriving on poor, sandy land.

=Common Chickweed.= _Stellaria media_ (L.) Cyrill. _Alsine media_ L. Flowers white; seeds reddish yellow to dark brown, somewhat flattened, nearly circular, each side covered with 5-6 curved rows of tubercles, giving the appearance of having the two extremities bent together, about 1 mm. in diameter. Introduced from Europe, thriving in cool weather in shade.

PURSLANE FAMILY. PORTULACACEAE.

=Purslane. Pussley.= _Portulaca oleracea_ L. Flowers yellow, seeds jet-black, shining, flattened, wedge-shaped, having three rounded nearly equal sides, broadly oval or almost circular, often having a curved tooth or point on one side, with 3-4 curved rows of minute tubercles. Seed .5-.8 mm. in diameter. Naturalized from the southwest. Every gardener knows how difficult it is to exterminate this weed.

CROWFOOT FAMILY. RANUNCULACEAE.

=Small-flowered Crowfoot.= _Ranunculus abortivus_ L. Achene light brown to straw colored, 0.8-1.2 mm. in diameter, oblong, 0.3 mm. thick, when seen in cross sections, surface uneven with minute wrinkles, pits and dots flattened, broad oval to circular, three-sided, bearing the remains of a short curved style. Rich, low woods, not a common weed.

=Bitter or Tall Buttercup.= _Ranunculus acris_ L. Achenes dull, dark brown, two-beaked, somewhat lens-shaped, 3-4 mm. long, one edge very slightly convex, the other prominently so, or somewhat semicircular in outline, hem-like margin, obscure. Introduced from Europe. Low land.

=Bulbous Buttercup.= _Ranunculus bulbosus_ L. Achenes dull brown, nearly circular, diameter 3-4 mm.; beak short, turned to one side, surrounded by a narrow, hem-like margin. In June, many meadows of New England and New York are yellow with great numbers of flowers. Introduced from Europe. Upland; fortunately not yet common in this state.

=Creeping Buttercup.= _Ranunculus repens_ L. Achenes plump, dull, light-brown, nearly circular, diameter 3-4 or more mm.; beak more or less hooked, hem-like margin conspicuous. This species usually seeds very sparingly, but when once introduced, it looses no time in spreading by creeping stems. Introduced from Europe. Moist land; a rapid spreader by runners.

POPPY FAMILY. PAPAVERACEAE.

=Celandine.= _Chelidonium majus_ L. Yellow sap, yellow flowers; seeds dark brown to almost black, ovoid, 1.2-1.5 mm. long, with 10-12 curved vertical rows of small square depressions on each side; projecting from one side a prominent white or cream-colored ridge, irregularly wrinkled when dry. Introduced from Europe. Persistent.

MUSTARD FAMILY. CRUCIFERAE.

=Yellow or Small Alyssum.= _Alyssum alyssoides_ L. Flowers yellow; fruit nearly circular; seeds rich yellowish brown, about 1.5 mm. long, nearly straight on one edge, flattened slightly, convex on each side or one side flat, surrounded by a thin wing. Cotyledons accumbent. Introduced from Europe.

=Yellow Rocket. Winter Cress.= _Barbarea vulgaris_ R. Br. (_Barbarea Barbarea_ L. Mac. M.) Seeds roughened, dull, light brown, irregularly flattened, broad oval, circular-oval, circular-oblong, cotyledons accumbent. Introduced from Europe.

=Hoary Alyssum.= _Berteroa incana_ (L.) D. C. Flowers white; pods oval, flattened; seeds reddish brown, circular, broad oval, or rhombic in outline, about 1.5 mm. in diameter, flat on one side showing a slight groove, the other side convex, irregular owing to pressure in the pod. Cotyledons accumbent. Introduced from Europe. A thrifty weed of the mustard family.

=Charlock.= _Brassica arvensis_ (L.) B. S. P. Pods tipped with a flattened elongated-conic, often 1-seeded beak. See also cuts of rutabaga and black mustard. Introduced from Europe. See statements last above.

=Rutabaga.= _Brassica campestris_ L. Seed dull, light or dark reddish brown, roughened by an indistinct net work of ridges, very nearly spherical, 1.4-1.8 mm. in diameter. Much cultivated, inclined to escape. Included here for comparison with other species. Introduced from Europe.

=Indian Mustard.= _Brassica juncea_ (L.) Cossos. See also cuts of turnip and black mustard. Introduced from Europe.

=Black Mustard.= _Brassica nigra_ (L.) Koch. Seeds dark brown to reddish brown, 1-1.7 mm., spherical, or broadly oblong, not flattened. The surface of well developed specimens presents a delicate but evident net work of fine ridges which appear under the lens as dark lines. The scar (hilum) is a whitish, elevated spot, at one extremity of the oblong seeds. See cuts of seeds of turnip. Introduced from Europe. A vigorous persistent weed.

=Small Fruited False-Flax.= _Camelina microcarpa_ Andrz. Flowers small, yellow; pods pear-shaped, flattened, about 6 mm. long, surrounded by a vertical ridge; seeds reddish brown, granular, usually broad-oval, about 1 mm. long, slightly flattened, the vertical ridge much less prominent than in C. sativa. When wet the seed is soon covered with mucilage. Not yet very common. Naturalized from Europe.

=False Flax.= _Camelina saliva_ (L.) Crantz. The common name is derived from the fact that it is a weed of flax fields in Europe. Flowers small, yellowish; pods pear-shaped, slightly flattened, 8-10 mm. long, surrounded by a vertical ridge. Seeds reddish yellow, granular, usually oval, 2-3 mm. long, one side flat or roundish, the other furnished with a prominent vertical or oblique ridge. Seed incumbent. When wet the seed is soon covered with mucilage. Naturalized from Europe.

=Shepherd's Purse.= _Capsella Bursa-pastoris_ (L.) Medic. _Bursa Bursa-pastoris_ (L.) Britton. Flowers small, white; pods flat, nearly triangular, about 4 mm. long. Seeds reddish yellow, granular, oblong, slightly flattened, 1 mm. or less long. Each side usually bearing two longitudinal grooves, separating the surface into three nearly equal parts, these grooves indicating the position of the parts of the embryo. When placed in water, a copious coat of transparent mucilage appears on the surface. In Nevada and Colorado a great pest in fields of Alfalfa.

=Hare's Ear.= _Conringia orientalis_ (L.) Dumort. Seeds brown, surface checked off into minute irregular pits or patches; broad oval, 2-2.5 mm. long, in section nearly circular, except two opposite slight grooves near one side. Cotyledons incumbent. Introduced, not common.

=Sand Rocket.= _Diplotaxis muralis_ (L.) DC. Flowers yellow, seeds reddish yellow or reddish brown, broad oval, somewhat flattened. Mucilaginous when wet. Introduced from Europe. A vigorous weed.

=Worm-seed or Treacle Mustard.= _Erysimum cheiranthoides_ L. Flowers yellow; seeds reddish yellow, smooth, dull, about 1.2 mm. long, ovoid or oval, more or less flattened, varying much in shape; some of them acute, rhombic or triangular, becoming mucilaginous when wet. Probably introduced from Europe. If not already in some portions of the state, we may at any time expect to find three other species of Erysimum. A vigorous and prominent weed.

=Apetalous Pepper-Grass.= _Lepidium apetalum_ Willd. Petals usually wanting, sometimes 2 and minute; pods flat, nearly circular; seeds reddish yellow, flattened, ovate, 1.5-1.8 mm. long, or more exactly, nearly straight on one side and roundish on the other. Mucilaginous when wet. Cotyledons incumbent. When well developed in open places it becomes a tumble weed. Apparently naturalized from Europe.

=Field Pepper-Grass or Cow Cress.= _Lepidium campestre_ (L.) R. Br. Petals white; pods flat, nearly circular; seeds dull, dark brown, obovoid, with base acute, more or less flattened on three sides, 2-2.5 mm. long. Mucilaginous when wet. Cotyledons incumbent. Naturalized from Europe.

=Hoary Cress.= _Lepidium Draba_ L. Seed reddish brown, surface slightly uneven, slightly flattened, oval to broad oval, 2-2.3 mm. long, usually with two slight vertical grooves on each side, incumbent. This may soon appear in Michigan.

=Golden Pepper-grass.= _Lepidium sativum_ L. Seed reddish yellow to reddish brown, oval, slightly compressed, often nearly straight on one edge, usually showing two vertical grooves on each side, 2.5 mm. long, cotyledons incumbent. This is not a grass but a plant of the mustard family; it has escaped from cultivation.

=Wild Pepper-Grass.= _Lepidium Virginicum_ L. Petals white, pods flat, nearly circular; seeds granular, dull, reddish yellow, flat, ovoid with one edge straight, the other rounded, usually with a slight wing on the broad end and on the round edge. 1.5-1.8 mm. long. Mucilaginous when wet. Cotyledons accumbent.

When mature, large plants become tumble weeds. Apparently native to this country.

=Ball Mustard.= _Neslia paniculata_ (L.) Desv. Small fruits, greenish to light yellowish-brown, globular, 2 mm. in diameter, covered with net-veined ridges; 1-2 seeded, cotyledons incumbent. Not yet known in Michigan but may arrive any time. Native of Europe.

=Tall or Tumbling Mustard.= _Sisymbrium altissimum_ L. Flowers cream-color; pods long and narrow; seeds reddish yellow, oblong, about 1.5 mm. long, the apex winged. Mucilaginous when wet. Cotyledons incumbent. Introduced from Europe. One of the worst weeds in the northwest.

=Hedge Mustard.= _Sisymbrium officinale_ (L.) Scop. Flowers yellow, seeds reddish brown or yellow, oblong, while lying on the flat side, circular in outline at the middle as viewed from the edge, straight on one side from the middle tapering to each end. 1-1.5 mm. long. Mucilaginous when wet. Cotyledons incumbent. Introduced from Europe.

=Penny Cress.= _Thlaspi arvense_ L. Flowers white; pods thin, double convex, nearly circular; seeds deep reddish brown, flat-oval or ovate, covered on each side by 12-14 curved ridges which originate and terminate at the narrow extremity. 1.5-2 mm. long. Cotyledons accumbent. When eaten by cows the milk and meat has a disagreeable taste. A bad weed, especially in the north-west. Introduced from Europe.

ORPINE FAMILY. CRASSULACEAE.

=Mossy Stonecrop.= _Sedum acre_ L. Seed light, reddish-yellow, somewhat glossy, obovate to oblong, pointed at the base, slightly anatropous, compressed, 6-7 mm. long. This mossy little plant is persistent when once established in sandy soil. Introduced from Europe.

ROSE FAMILY. ROSACEAE.

=Tall Hairy Agrimony.= _Agrimonia gryposepala_ Wahl. _Agrimonia hirsuta_ (Muhl.) Bicknell. Flowers yellow. Bur, consisting of calyx and two included fruits inside of which are two seeds; lower part of bur, top-shaped, rough, grooved, above which are numerous hooked prickles in several rows, the whole 7-10 mm. long. Native of woods in this country; seeds mottled brown, flat on one side, 2.5 by 2.5 mm. not found mixed with grass seed. Several other species are nearly as troublesome as this one. Seldom found out of the woods.

=Small-flowered Agrimony.= _Agrimonia parviflora_ Ait. Flowers yellow; fruit 5-6 mm. long and nearly as wide including the hooked bristles; bristles few, erect or spreading, scarcely any recurved; seeds light brown, broad oval, 2.7 by 2.5 mm. with a rounded point at the base more pronounced than in the former species. Shady places.

=Silvery Cinquefoil.= _Potentilla argentea_ L. Flowers yellow, achenes dull white to brown, unsymmetrically ovoid or short kidney-shaped, slightly flattened, 0.5-0.7 mm. long, smooth or marked by a few longitudinal curved ridges, some of them forked. Introduced into Michigan from Europe or possibly from the eastern states. Thrives in sandy land.

=One kind of Cinquefoil or Five-finger.= _Potentilla Canadensis_ L. Achene unsymmetrically ovoid, light straw-color to brown, ridges indistinct, short, wavy, branched and broken up, (these ridges are different from those of P. argentea or P. monspeliensis) 1 mm. long, the achene is less flattened and narrower in proportion. Native from Me. to Ga. Miss.

=Rough Cinquefoil.= _Potentilla Monspeliensis_ L. Flowers yellow; achenes nearly white to light brown, unsymmetrically ovoid, or short kidney-shaped, slightly flattened, 1 mm. or less in length, clearly marked by a few longitudinal curved ridges, the longer ones forked. Indigenous to Michigan, thriving on moist or wet land.

PULSE FAMILY. LEGUMINOSAE.

=Ax Seed. Ax Wort.= _Coronilla scoparioides_ Koch. Seed reddish brown, oblong, slightly flattened and curved, 4-5 mm. long, 1.5 mm. wide, with a circular scar in a depression on the middle of one edge, and a slight ridge the entire length of both sides. Introduced from Europe, not yet a prominent weed in Michigan.

=Bird's-foot Trefoil. Ground Honeysuckle. Bloom-fell.= _Lotus corniculatus_ L. Seed light brown occasionally mottled with black, shining, spherical to ovoid, slightly compressed near one edge, 1-1.2 mm. in diameter, the compressed portion (raphe) extending half to three-fourths the length of the seed to the hilum or scar, above this the seed is narrower. Introduced from Europe. Seldom met with in this country.

=Black Medick. Nonesuch.= _Medicago lupulina_ L. Flowers light yellow; pods black, oval, much flattened, spirally coiled, causing the two extremities to nearly meet; 2-2.8 mm. long; seeds smooth, dull yellow to green, oval, flattened, kidney-shaped, with a tubercle near the middle of the concave edge or like the figure, 1.5-1.8 mm. long. Introduced from Europe and becoming frequent in grass land. Its worst feature is to supply seeds that may be mistaken for and mixed with seeds of alfalfa and red clover. The seeds differ from those of alfalfa in being more commonly egg-shaped than kidney-shaped in outline. The scar is nearer the small extremity in these seeds than in those of alfalfa. For pasture this is less valuable than white clover.

=Alfalfa. Lucerne.= _Medicago sativa_ L. Seeds varying much in shape and size owing to their crowding in the pod when young, yellowish green to light brown. The cuts give a good idea of the variety of shapes; surface dull or somewhat glossy, often kidney shaped, with the scar in a depression near the middle, the tips may be truncate or acute or rounded, 2-2.5 mm. long in cross-section, oval; when viewed from one edge it is seen to be bent or warped in various ways, half anatropous, often seen with a slight depression extending along one edge from the scar to one end, larger seeds more often flattened than are the shorter. A prominent forage plant, the seeds of which are often adulterated. Native of Europe.

=White Sweet Clover.= _Melilotus alba Desv._ Flowers white; pods straw-color to brown, coarsely and irregularly reticulate-ridged or wrinkled; seeds smooth, dull, yellowish or greenish, more strictly elliptical-oblong in outline than those of red clover and alfalfa, bearing the broad, shallow notch near one extremity; 2-2.2 mm. long. Introduced from Europe. Seeds used to adulterate those of alfalfa.

=Alsike Clover.= _Trifolium hybridum_ L. Seeds dull yellowish green to very dark green, some of them mottled, lighter about the seed scar, flattened, one of the rounded edges thicker than the other, and between the two a slight groove on each side; seed rounded at one end, the other truncate with the seed scar in the middle of the truncate end. Some seeds are half anatropous, resembling in shape those of red clover; 1.3-1.2 mm. in diameter. When compared with white clover, these seeds are larger and thicker. Introduced from Europe.

=Crimson Clover. Scarlet Clover.= _Trifolium incarnatum_ L. Seed smooth, shining when not old, color light yellow to reddish yellow or brown, oval, scar about one-third the distance from the narrow end, three-fourths anatropous, 2-2.5 mm. long, very slightly compressed.

=Red Clover.= _Trifolium pratense_ L. Seeds usually dull, pure light yellow to purple, flattened, ovoid, having the seed scar near the middle of one edge or below the middle, half anatropous, a slight depression on each side from the scar toward the broad end, the short edge thinner than the long edge, 1.5-1.8 mm. long by 1.x1.4 mm. wide. Very common. Introduced from Europe.

=Mammoth Clover= is a variety or race or red clover, the seeds of which are indistinguishable from the seeds of red clover. As a rule they are darker in color and rather smaller. Red clover and mammoth clover are usually much mixed.

=Low Hop-clover.= _Trifolium procumbens_ L. A low, yellow-flowered annual, often becoming a tumble-weed at maturity. Seeds plump, shining, straw-colored to light brown, broad oval, very slightly flattened, 1 mm. long, three-fourths anatropous, i. e., the scar is a very little distance from one end of the seed. A little way back of the scar on each side is a light-colored depression. Rather rapidly spreading. From Europe.

=White Clover.= _Trifolium repens_ L. Seeds scarcely shining, yellow to light brown, flattened, one of the rounded edges thinner than the other, and between the two a slight groove on each side, one end rounded, the other truncate with a slight depression in the center containing the seed scar 1.-1.2 mm. long to 1 mm. wide. The seeds that are truncate at one end are anatropous, some of them resembling those of red clover are half anatropous. Common and well known, possibly native to the northern country.

GERANIUM FAMILY. GERANIACEAE.

=Alfilaria. Storks-bill.= _Erodium cicutarium_ (L.) L'Her. Flowers pink; achenes reddish brown, hairy, lance-shaped, the smaller end curved, hard, sharp, the larger end when mature bearing an awn spirally coiled for half its length, the sickle like apex turned to one side.

Achenes 5-6 mm. long, the coiled portion and cycle-like apex each 10-15 mm. long. True seed light brown, ovoid-lanceolate 2.5-2.7 mm. long. Introduced from Europe.

This plant is not yet common in our state, but, judging from its behavior in the botanic garden, it is destined soon to become a bad weed. On the desert ranches of Arizona, Nevada and elsewhere, it furnishes much pasture.

=Cut-leaved Crane's bill.= _Geranium dissectum_ L. Seed light brown, broadly oval or ovoid, surface deeply pitted requiring 25-30 pits to form one row transversely about the surface. Seed scar at the larger end from which extends a slight vertical ridge reaching nearly one-third the length of the seed. Introduced from Europe, becoming common.

=Small-flowered Crane's bill.= _Geranium pusillum_ Burm. f. Flowers minute, pink, pubescent under a lens, slightly compressed, oval with the apex near one side of one end, about 2 mm. long, the beak nearly twice as long; seed reddish brown, smooth, oval, slightly flattened, 1.7-1.9 mm. long. Introduced from Europe, a bad weed when once established.

SPURGE FAMILY. EUPHORBIACEAE.

=Three-Seeded Mercury.= _Acalypha Virginica_ L. Seeds 1.3-1.8 mm. long oval or obovoid, dull, light to dark reddish brown or gray, mottled with black spots, surface covered with numerous irregular vertical lines, a ridge (hilum) extending from the pointed end for about one-third the length, continuing to the broad extremity as a dark line (raphe). Native to this country. Moist land.

=Cypress Spurge.= _Euphorbia Cyparissias_ L. Seeds dull, light lead or ash-colored, oval or oblong, circular in transverse section, 1.5-2 mm. long, not including an irregular yellowish appendage (caruncle) at the base, a dark verticle line (raphe) extending along one side. Introduced from Europe. Thriving on thin sandy soil.

=Toothed Spurge.= _Euphorbia dentata_ Michx. Seeds ash colored, obovoid, or globose, inconspicuously four-angled, base obtuse, irregularly tuberculate, 1 mm. or more long. It thrives in the Botanic Garden and very likely may soon spread onto Michigan farms.

=Leafy Spurge.= _Euphorbia Esula_ L. Seeds dull, light drab colored, broad-oval, narrowed at one end, nearly circular in transverse section, 2.3 mm. long, not including a wrinkled bunch (caruncle) at the base, a dark vertical line (raphe) extending above one side opposite which is another ridge the color of the seed. Introduced from Europe.

_Euphorbia hirsuta_ (Torr). Weigand. Seeds lead colored, obovoid approximately square in transverse section with one side narrower than the others, 4-10 irregular transverse ridges on each side, the raphe standing along one corner, about 1.2 mm. long by 7 mm. wide. Sandy soil.

=Spotted Spurge.= _Euphorbia maculata_ L. Seeds obovoid-oblong, nearly square in cross-sections, minutely pitted and transversely wrinkled with 2-5 broken wavy ridges, a fine dark vertical line (raphe) along one corner, color reddish drab, .6-.8 mm. long. Probably introduced from west of the Rocky Mountains.