Weeds I can haz u

Ten points to whomever can ID this.

I’M TUMBLING

I now makz tweets on da intrawebs.

Uz be silla no to folla me @weednerd.

Leafy spurge is a noxious weed in many states, including North Dakota. Its persistent and deep-rooted taproot makes it an aggressive, invasive perennial weed in many areas. Because it is a noxious weed, millions of dollars of tax-payers money is spent every year to control this weed on public land.

In addition to the economic losses, leafy spurge impacts the surrounding vegetation. Its competitive ability allows it to create a monoculture and drive out native vegetation and reduce the biodiversity of the area.

If introduced into a rangeland, pasture or roadway, it can quickly colonize and spread. Its ability to reproduce vegetatively below the soil as well as produce seeds makes it difficult to control. There are a few decent chemicals that can be used to control leafy spurge, but it’s not always the best and most economical control method. Additionally, cultural methods of control, such as tillage, are nearly impossible. Typically, a biological control method is the only effective means. Sheep and goats have been used to keep the weed in check in areas, as they seem to like the waxy latex that is produced by the plant. There are also a couple insects that can be purchased and introduced to attack different life-stages of the plant.

I SEEZ U: Leafy spurge produces a latex, so if the stems are broken open a sticky latex will be visible. Additionally, maturing plants appear to have yellow flowers from a distance, but it’s actually the yellow bracts surrounding the flowers that are visible. The flowers themselves are typically greenish-yellow and inconspicuous.

I’m tumbling, I’m tumbling…

(Get it? Get it?! Cuz it’s a tumbleweed.)

Greetings from sunny Arizona. In honor of spring break this week, I’m going to teach you about my most recent love (Dont worry Lib, I’m not cheating on you!)—cactuses!! More specifically, the saguaro cactus.

While cactuses themselves aren’t considered weeds, a weed is technically anything growing where you don’t want it, so in a way it could be. However, cactuses are protected plants in Arizona. A permit is needed to remove saguaros prior to construction and tampering with the plants could result in a fine up to $10,000.

When you think of a cactus, the saguaro is probably what most people imagine. This fasinating plant can survive extremely hot and dry conditions but is very intolerant to cold weather.

Saguaros can live to be over a hundred years old and reach heights up to 50 feet! They only average about an inch of growth per year and usually only 1/8” in the first few years (doesn’t that blow your mind?!).

Most saguaros will develop arms during their lifetime, however it is not uncommon to see an armless one (termed CIGARos….get it?!). Arms typically develop when they reach about 12 feet or at least 30 years of age.

Unlike most plants that open their stomata during the day to capture carbon dioxide, the saguaro has evolved to open its during the night when water loss will be at a minimum. This adaption of succulent plants allows them to survive desert conditions.

I SEEZ U: Wanna find a saguaro? Well you’re going to have to do some traveling. The saguaro cactus can only be found in the southern portions of Arizona and California in addition to a small area in northern Mexico.

Iz not comin outz til you kill dos weedz.

White clover is a perennial plant and is a very important forage legume for livestock and other wild animals. Because of it high nutritional value and ability to provide nitrogen to the soil, it is often seeded with other pasture species.

Notice in the introduction I referred to white clover as a plant and not a weed. I did that because its status as a weed varies depending on who you talk to. Some people seed clover in their lawns to keep them looking healthy and green, while others consider it a troublesome weed in lawns.

What’s my take on clover? Well I consider clover anywhere outside of roadsides and pastures a weed. Lawns should consist of grass and only grass, nothing else.

One reason I consider it to be a troublesome weed is because of its ability to quickly spread. Under good conditions, one clover plant can quickly spread to create a large patch that compete with grass for light, moisture and resources. Clover is able to spread so quickly because of stolons (horizontal stems that run just above the soil surface and root down at any point, creating a new plant). [Look at the picture above for a visual representation]

I mentioned earlier that clover is a nitrogen-fixing legume. Clover has the ability to form a symbiotic relationship with a special type of bacteria in the soil called Rhizobium. The bacteria invades the roots of clover and is able to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form for the plants (ammonium). In return for the nitrogen, the plant will allocate some of the sugars that it created during photosynthesis to the bacteria. This symbiotic relationship is unique only to the legume family of plants.

I SEEZ U: Clover is easy to identify because of its unique watermark that is present on the lower half of each leaf.

What are your thoughts about clover, weed or not?

You’ll be waiting a long time little fellas.

Today we get to combine my two favorite loves into the same post. Catnip, a fun weed, not only contains the word cat but also has some interesting affects on the little critters.

When the leaves of catnip are crushed, a volatile minty odor is released that many cats find irresistible. The oil affects a cat’s brain similar to how THC from marijuana affects the human brain. (Is the previous cat picture making more sense now?)

Originally introduced in the US as a flavoring and remedy for numerous ailments, catnip eventually escaped and became a weed.

Catnip is also a perennial weed, so if you’re lucky enough to find it in your yard, you’ll be able to continuing having fun with your kitty year after year after year….

I SEEZ YOU: Catnip leaves are triangular in shape and have a serrated margin while the stem always has 4-angles.