Virginia Tech Weed Identification Guide

Scientific Name Index:

A

Abutilon theophrasti Velvetleaf, Buttonweed
Acalypha ostryifolia Hophornbeam Copperleaf
Acalypha virginica VA Copperleaf, Three-seeded Mercury
Achillea millefolium Common Yarrow, Yarrow
Ailanthus altissima Tree-of-Heaven, Paradise Tree
Albizia julibrissin Mimosa, Silktree
Alisma subcordatum American Water Plantain
Allaria petiolata Garlic Mustard
Allium vineale Wild Garlic
Alternanthera philoxeroides Alligatorweed
Amaranthus blitoides Prostrate Pigweed, Prostrate Amaranth
Amaranthus hybridus Smooth Pigweed
Amaranthus palmeri Palmer Amaranth
Amaranthus retroflexus Redroot Pigweed
Amaranthus spinosus Spiny Amaranth, Spiny Pigweed
Ambrosia artemisiifolia Common Ragweed, Ragweed
Ambrosia trifida Giant Ragweed
Ampelamus albidus Honeyvine or Climbing Milkweed
Anagallis arvensis Scarlet Pimpernel
Andropogon virginicus Broomsedge
Anoda cristata Spurred Anoda
Anthemis cotula Mayweed Chamomile
Anthoxanthum odoratum Sweet Vernalgrass
Apocynum cannabinum Hemp Dogbane
Arabidopsis thaliana Mouse-ear Cress
Arctium minus Common Burdock
Arrhenatherum elatius var. bulbosa Bulbous Oatgrass
Artemisia vulgaris Mugwort, Wild Chrysanthemum
Arthraxon hispidus Jointhead Arthraxon
Asclepias incarnata Swamp Milkweed
Asclepias syriaca Common Milkweed, Milkweed
Asclepias tuberosa Butterfly Milkweed, Butterfly Weed
Aster pilosus White Heath Aster

B

Barbarea vulgaris Yellow Rocket
Bidens bipinnata Spanishneedles
Bidens frondosa Devils Beggarticks, Stick-Tights
Bidens polylepis Coreopsis Beggarticks, Beggarticks
Bignonia capreolata Crossvine
Brachiaria platyphylla Broadleaf Signalgrass
Brachiaria ramosa Browntop Millet
Brasenia schreberi Watershield
Brassica kaber Wild Mustard
Bromus tectorum Downy Brome
Brunnichia ovata Redvine

C

Calamintha nepeta Calamint
Calepina irregularis Calepina
Callitriche heterophylla Water-starwort
Calystegia sepium Hedge Bindweed
Campsis radicans Trumpetcreeper, Cow-Itch
Cannabis sativa Marijuana
Capsella bursa-pastoris Shepherd's-purse
Cardamine hirsuta Hairy Bittercress
Cardiospermum halicacabum Balloonvine
Carduus acanthoides Plumeless Thistle
Carduus nutans Musk Thistle, Nodding Thistle
Cassia fasciculata Partridgepea
Cassia obtusifolius Sicklepod
Cassia occidentalis Coffee Senna
Cenchrus longispinus Longspine Sandbur
Centaurea cyanus Cornflower, Bachelor's Buttons
Centaurea maculosa Spotted Knapweed, Star Thistle
Cerastium vulgatum Mouseear Chickweed
Ceratophyllum demersum Coontain, Hornwort
Chara spp. Chara, Musk-grass, Stonewort
Chenopodium album Common Lambsquarters
Chrysanthemum leucanthemum Oxeye Daisy
Cichorium intybus Chicory
Cirsium altissimum Tall Thistle
Cirsium arvense Canada Thistle
Cirsium vulgare Bull Thistle
Commelina communis Asiatic or Common Dayflower
Conium maculatum Poison Hemlock
Conopholis americana Squaw-root, Cancer-root
Convolvulus arvensis Field Bindweed
Conyza canadensis Horseweed, Marestail
Coronilla varia Crownvetch, Trailing Crownvetch
Crepis capillaris Smooth Hawksbeard
Crotalaria spectabilis Showy Crotalaria
Croton glandulosus Tropic Croton
Cuscuta spp. Dodder
Cynodon dactylon Bermudagrass, Wire Grass
Cyperus esculentus Yellow Nutsedge or Nut-grass, Chufa
Cyperus iria Rice Flatsedge
Cyperus rotundus Purple Nutsedge or Nut-grass, Chufa

D

Dactyloctenium aegyptium Crowfootgrass
Datura stramonium Jimsonweed
Daucus carota Wild Carrot, Queen Anne's Lace
Delphinium tricorne Dwarf Larkspur
Desmodium tortuosum Florida Beggarweed
Desmodium viridiflorum Tick Trefoil
Dianthus armeria Deptford Pink
Dicentra cucullaria Dutchman's Breeches
Dichanthelium clandestinum Deer-tongue Grass
Dichondra repens Dichondra
Digitaria ischaemum Smooth Crabgrass
Digitaria sanguinalis Large Crabgrass, Hairy Crabgrass
Diodia teres Poorjoe, Common Buttonweed
Diodia virginiana Virginia Buttonweed
Dioscorea batatas Cinnamon Vine, Chinese Yam
Dipsacus fullonum Common Teasel
Duchesnea indica Indian Mock-Strawberry

E

Echinochloa crus-galli Barnyardgrass
Echium vulgare Viper's Blugoss, Blueweed
Eclipta prostrata Eclipta, Yerba-de-Tago
Egeria densa Brazilian Elodea
Eichhornia crassipes Water Hyacinth
Elaeagnus umbellata Autumn Olive
Eleusine indica Goosegrass
Elytrigia repens Quackgrass
Eragrostis cilianensis Stinkgrass
Eragrostis spectabilis Purple Lovegrass
Erechtites hieracifolia Fireweed, American Burnweed
Eremochloa ophiuroides Centipedegrass
Erigeron annuus Annual Fleabane, Daisy Fleabane
Erodium cicutarium Redstem Filaree, Filaree
Eupatorium capillifolium Dogfennel
Euphorbia cyparissias Cypress Spurge
Euphorbia dentata Toothed Spurge, Wild Poinsetta
Euphorbia helioscopia Sun Spurge
Euphorbia lathyris Caper Spurge, Mole Plant
Euphorbia maculata Spotted Spurge

G

Galinsoga ciliata Hairy Galinsoga
Galium mollugo Smooth Bedstraw
Geranium carolinianum Carolina Geranium, Crane's-bill
Geranium dissectum Cutleaf Geranium
Geum canadense White Avens
Glechoma hederacea Ground Ivy, Creeping Charlie
Gnaphalium purpureum Purple Cudweed

H

Helianthus tuberosus Jerusalem Artichoke
Hesperis matronalis Dame's Rocket
Hibiscus trionum Venice Mallow
Hieracium pilosella Mouseear Hawkweed
Hordeum pusillum Little Barley
Humulus japonicus Japanese Hops
Hydrocotyle umbellata Marsh Pennywort
Hypericum perforatum Common St. Johnswort
Hypochoeris radicata Common Catsear

I

Impatiens capensis Touch-me-not, Jewelweed
Ipomoea coccinea Red Morningglory
Ipomoea cordatotriloba var. torreyana Cotton Morningglory
Ipomoea hederacea Ivyleaf Morningglroy
Ipomoea hederacea var. integriuscula Entireleaf Morningglory
Ipomoea lacunosa Pitted Morningglory
Ipomoea pandurata Bigroot Morningglory
Ipomoea purpurea Tall Morningglory
Ipomoea quamoclit Cypressvine Morningglory
Ipomoea wrightii Palmleaf Morningglory

J

Jacquemontia tamnifolia Smallflower Morningglory
Juncus repens Creeping Rush
Justicia americana American Water Willow, Water Willow

K

Kochia scoparia Kochia
Krigia caespitosa Dwarf Dandelion
Krigia oppositifolia Dwarf Dandelion
Kyllinga brevifolia Green Kyllinga

L

Lactuca serriola Prickly Lettuce
Lamium amplexicaule Henbit
Lamium purpureum Purple Deadnettle
Lathyrus latifolius Sweat Pea, Everlasting Pea
Lemna spp. Duckweed
Lepidium campestre Field Pepperweed
Lepidium virginicum Virginia Pepperweed
Lespedeza cuneata Sericea Lespedeza
Lespedeza striata Common Lespedeza, Japanese Clover
Linaria canadensis Common Toadflax
Lolium multiflorum Italian Ryegrass
Lonicera japonica Japanese Honeysuckle
Lonicera morrowii Morrow's Bush-Honeysuckle
Lotus corniculatus Birdsfoot Trefoil
Ludwigia palustris Waterpurslane, Creeping Primrose
Lupinus perennis Perennial Lupine
Luzula bulbosa Woodrush
Lythrum salicaria Purple Loosestrife

M

Malva neglecta Common Mallow, Button Weed
Marrubium vulgare Horehound, White Horehound
Matricaria matricarioides Pineapple-weed
Mazus japonicus White Flowered Mazus
Medicago lupulina Black Medic
Melilotus alba White Sweetclover
Mertensia virginica Virginia Bluebells, Virginia Cowslip
Microstegium vimineum var. imberbe Japanese Stiltgrass, Annual Jewgrass
Mirablis nyctaginea Wild Four-o' Clock
Mollugo verticillata Carpetweed
Monarda fistulosa Bee-balm, Wild Bergamot
Muhlenbergia schreberi Nimblewill
Murdannia keisak Marsh Dayflower, Asian Spiderwort
Murdannia nudiflora Doveweed
Muscari racemosum Starch Grapehyacinth, Blue-Bottles
Myriophyllum spicatum Eurasian Watermilfoil

N

Najas minor Brittleleaf or Slender Naiad
Nepeta cataria Catnip
Nicandra physalodes Apple-of-Peru
Nymphaea spp. Waterlily

O

Oenothera biennis Common Eveningprimrose
Oenothera laciniata Cutleaf Eveningprimrose
Opuntia humifusa Pricklypear
Ornithogalum umbellatum Star-of-Bethlehem
Oryza sativa Red Rice
Oxalis corniculata Creeping Woodsorrel
Oxalis stricta Yellow Woodsorrel

P

Panicum capillare Witchgrass
Panicum clandestinum Deer-tongue Grass
Panicum dichotomiflorum Fall Panicum
Panicum miliaceum Wild-Proso Millet
Panicum texanum Texas Panicum
Papaver dubium Field Poppy
Parthenocissus quinquefolia Virginia-Creeper
Paspalum dilatatum Dallisgrass
Passiflora incarnata Maypop Passionflower
Pastinaca sativa Wild Parsnip
Perilla frutescens Perilla Mint
Phacelia dubia Small-flowered Phacelia, Phacelia
Phlox divaricata Blue Phlox
Phlox subulata Creeping Phlox, Moss Pink
Phragmites australis Common Reed
Phyllanthus tenellus Long-stalked Phyllanthus
Physalis heterophylla Clammy Groundcherry
Phytolacca americana Pokeweed, Pokeberry
Plantago lanceolata Buckhorn Plantain
Plantago major Broadleaf Plantain
Plantago rugelii Blackseed Plantain
Plantago virginica Paleseed or Hoary Plantain
Poa annua Annual Bluegrass
Poa trivialis Roughstalk or Rough Bluegrass
Podophyllum peltatum Mayapple, Mandrake
Polygonum arifolium Tearthumb
Polygonum aviculare Prostrate Knotweed
Polygonum caespitosum var. longisetum Tufted Knotweed
Polygonum coccineum Swamp Smartweed
Polygonum convolvulus Wild Buckwheat
Polygonum cuspidatum Japanese Knotweed, Japanese Bamboo
Polygonum pensylvanicum Pennsylvania Smartweed
Polygonum persicaria Ladysthumb
Polygonum sagittatum Arrow-leaved Tearthumb
Polygonum virginianum Virginia Knotweed
Pontederia cordata Pickerelweed
Portulaca oleracea Common Purslane
Potamogeton crispus Curlyleaf Pondweed
Potamogeton diversifolius Variable-leaf Pondweed
Potamogeton pusillus Slender Pondweed, Small Pondweed
Potentilla recta Sulfur Cinquefoil
Prunella vulgaris Healall
Pueraria lobata Kudzu

R

Ranunculus abortivus Smallflower Buttercup or Crowfoot
Ranunculus arvensis Corn Buttercup
Ranunculus bulbosus Bulbous Buttercup
Raphanus raphanistrum Wild Radish
Robinia pseudoacacia Black Locust
Rosa multiflora Multiflora Rose
Rubus spp. Brambles (Raspberries, Blackberries, etc.)
Rumex acetosella Red Sorrel, Sheep Sorrel
Rumex crispus Curly Dock
Rumex obtusifolius Broadleaf Dock

S

Sagittaria australis Long-beaked Arrowhead
Sambucus canadensis Elderberry, American Elder
Sanguinaria canadensis Bloodroot
Saponaria officinalis Bouncingbet, Soapwort
Satureja vulgaris Wild Basil
Saururus cernuus Lizard's Tail
Scleranthus annuus Knawel, German Moss
Senecio tomentosus Wooly Ragwort
Senecio vulgaris  Common Groundsel
Sesbania exaltata Hemp Sesbania
Setaria faberi Giant Foxtail
Setaria glauca Yellow Foxtail
Setaria viridis Green Foxtail
Sherardia arvensis Field Madder
Sicyos angulatus Burcucumber
Sida rhombifolia Arrowleaf Sida
Sida spinosa Prickly Sida
Silene alba White Campion
Silene virginica Fire Pink
Silene vulgaris Bladder Campion
Sisymbrium officinale Hedge Mustard
Smallanthus uvedalia Yellow-flowered Leaf Cup, Bearsfoot
Solanum carolinense Horsenettle, Sand Briar
Solanum dulcamara Bittersweet Nightshade
Solanum eleagnifolium Silverleaf Nightshade
Solanum nigrum Black Nightshade
Solanum ptycanthum Eastern Black Nightshade
Solanum rostratum Buffalobur
Solidago canadensis Common Goldenrod, Canada Goldenrod
Soliva pterosperma Lawn Burweed
Sonchus asper Spiny Sowthistle
Sonchus oleraceus Annual Sowthistle
Sorghum halepense Johnsongrass
Spergula arvensis Corn Spurry
Stachys floridana Florida Betony, Rattlesnake Weed
Stellaria media Common Chickweed, Chickweed
Symphoricarpos orbiculatus Coral-berry, Devil's Shoestring

T

Taraxacum officinale Dandelion
Thlaspi arvense Field Pennycress
Thlaspi perfoliatum Thoroughwort or Perfoliate Pennycress
Toxicodendron radicans Poison-Ivy
Tragopogon dubius Goat's-beard, Western Salsify
Tribulus terrestris Puncturevine
Tridens flavus Purpletop
Trifolium arvense Rabbitfoot Clover
Trifolium pratense Red Clover
Trifolium repens White Clover
Triodanis perfoliata Common Venus' Looking-Glass
Tripsacum dactyloides Gama-grass
Typha spp. Cattail

U

Urtica dioica Stinging Nettle
Utricularia spp. Bladderwort

V

Valerianella radiata Corn Salad
Verbascum blattaria Moth Mullein
Verbascum thapsus Common Mullein
Verbesina alternifolia Wingstem
Verbesina occidentalis Stickweed
Vernonia noveboracensis New York Ironweed
Veronica americana American Speedwell
Veronica persica Persian Speedwell
Vicia sativa Common Vetch
Vicia dasycarpa Smooth Vetch
Viola arvensis Field Violet, Wild Pansy
Viola papilionacea Common Blue Violet
Viola pedata Bird's Foot Violet, Crowfoot Violet
Vitis spp. Wild Grape

W

Wolffia spp. Watermeal

X

Xanthium strumarium Common Cocklebur
Xanthium spinosum Spiny Cocklebur
Y
Yucca filamentosa Yucca, Bear-grass