Common Weeds in Maintained Turfgrass

The following are some of the most commonly found weeds within the precincts of stadium, golf courses and other field sports

To provide a means of identification, certain external characteristics are indicated, so as to assist in the determination of the method of control most suitable and to identify each plant.

Certain weeds are grouped so that during the identification procedure, each individual difference may be noted.

The most accepted Common Name and Standard (Universal) Botanical Name are indicated and were correct at the time of writing. Most of the following plants are resistant to close mowing and actually miniaturize but often flower and seed in this state.

Common Name	"Catsear (Flatweed)"
Botanical Name	Hypochoeris radicata

Leaves	Slightly lobed, waxy deep green hairy surface. Spathulate in rosettes. Milky sap


Flower	Solitary yellow daisy on thinly branched stems.



Root	Thickly contractile, fleshy tap-root, (if broken, able to re-grow. Deep rooted persistent. Herbaceous perennial.


Seed	With a pappus.

Common Name	"Dandelion"
Botanical Name	Taraxacum officinale

Leaves	Deeply toothed or dentate spathulate, smooth shiny light green with milky sap. Rosetted


Flower	Solitary double yellow daisy on single, hollow stems.



Root	Thick contractile, fleshy tap-root. Deep rooted persistent Herbaceous perennial.


Seed	With a pappus.

Common Name	"Curled Dock"
Botanical Name	Rumex crispus

Leaves	Wavy and smooth margined waxy, brownish green elliptical in a rosette. No milky sap


Flower	Panicle of brownish green polygons on single or branched stems.



Root	Large, fleshy, deeply penetrating, contractile tap-root. Persistent herbaceous perennial with triangular flanged seeds.


Seed

Common Name	"Canadian Fleabane"
Botanical Name	Erigeron canadensis

Leaves	Smooth, wavy or toothed margin. Silver grey or green with a hairy, waxy surface. Elliptical or spathulate in rosettes. No milky sap.


Flower	Panicle of small white daisies on a single branched stem.



Root	Strong, branched, non-contractile tap-root. Annual or biannual.


Seed	With a pappus.

Common Name	"Sowthistle" "Milk Thistle"
Botanical Name	Sonchus oleraceus

Leaves	Deeply toothed or lobed to the mid-rib. Spathulate when young. Curled and toothed stipules at the base. Fleshy, silver-grey, or green waxy surface. Milky sap. Mostly in singular rosettes.


Flower	Small double yellow daisy on a ligulate, ribbed, hollow stem.



Root	Non-contractile, semi-fibrous. Annual or Biennual.


Seed	With a pappus.

Common Name	"Capeweed"
Botanical Name	Cryptostemma calendula

Leaves	Deeply lobed to the mid-rib, Pinnatisect
	Thick, fleshy, very hairy, silver grey-green above, silver beneath. Rosetted with no milky sap.

Flower	Solitary, single yellow with black or orange centre, on singular stems.



Root	Strongly fibrous Annual or Biennial.
Seed	Small nutlets enclosed in a wooly ball.

Common Name	"Lambs Tongue" "Rib Grass"
Botanical Name	Plantago lanceolata

Leaves	Smooth (entire) margined deep green with ribbed veins. Rosetted with no milky sap.


Flower	Solitary, short, brown spike on a single stem.



Root	Very fibrous, shallow Annual or Biennial.
Seed	Tiny brown nutlet.

Common Name	"Sheperd's Purse"
Botanical Name	Capsella bursa-pastoria

Leaves	Smooth or wavy, toothed or lobed, spathulate or elliptical grey green in rosettes. Slight turnip odour when crushed.


Flower	Panicles of small white flowers on singular branched fine stems.



Root	Deep non-contractile tap-root.
Seed	Dispersed from heart shaped capsules or purse-like pods resembling a sheperds sporran. Annual or Biennial.

Common Name	"Cudweed"
Botanical Name	Gnaphalium spp.

Leaves	Smooth, margined, elliptical, oval or spathulate. Waxy light green above white beneath. In rosettes and stoloniferous.


Flower	Tiny brownish white on short branched stems.



Root	Strongly fibrous rooting at the nodes. Soft wooded perennial.
Seed	Globular heads producing only one seed at the top of each stem.

Common Name	"Pitchforks" "Cobblers Pegs"
Botanical Name	Bidens pilosa

Leaves	Young leaves heart or oval shaped on long petioles;s. Older leaves imparipinnate. Light green with toothed margins.


Flower	Small yellow single daisy on branched stems.



Root	Strongly fibrous. Annual or Biennial
Seed	Heads or clusters of long brown seeds, each with two barbed spines.

Common Name	"Purple Top"
Botanical Name	Verbena bonariensis

Leaves	Toothed lanceolate, coarse textured, dark green and heavily veined (Mint-like). Strong rosettes.


Flower	Corymbs of small blue or purple flowers on branched, square stems.



Root	deep strong tap-root. Soft wooded perennial or biennial..
Seed	Small brown nutlets.

Common Name	"Batchelor's Button"
Botanical Name	Cotula australis

Leaves	Double medium to finely dissected or fern-like. Alternately on finely branched stems. Light green. Maybe stoloniferous.


Flower	Small, white, button-like daisy on fine, short, axillary or terminal stems.



Root	Fine, fibrous, annual or biennial. Coarser growth than Bindii or Yarrow.
Seed

Common Name	"Bindii" "Jo-Jo"
Botanical Name	Soliva pterosperma

Leaves	Triple, dissected or finely fern-like, light green, shiny, smooth surface. Small very compact rosettes.


Flower	Small, green, set deep in the leaf axils. (Not on stems)



Root	Fine, fibrous annual. Never stoloniferous.
Seed	Small, flat, brown, shield-like with needle-like spines.

Common Name	"Yarrow" "Milfoil"
Botanical Name	Achillea millefolium

Leaves	Long, feathery, double dissected and fern-like. Grey-green with numerous fine hairs. Small compact rosettes.


Flower	Corymbs of very small white flowers on single, branched stems.



Root	Deep, fleshy tap-root with strong, vigorous rhizomes. Most persistent herbabceous perennial.
Seed	Fine, brown nutlet often as an impurity in Bent grass seed.

Common Name	"Lesser Swine Cress"
Botanical Name	Coronopus didymus

Leaves	Medium to finely dissected dark green leaves on alternate prostrate stems. Sour, pungent odour when crushed.


Flower	Short, axillary racemes of green, nut-like pods.



Root	Fine, tap or fibrous with turnip-like odour. Annual.
Seed

Common Name	"Mouse Eared Chickweed"
Botanical Name	Cerastium glomeratum

Leaves	Small smooth-margined, opposite, oval, fleshy with very fine grey hairs. Dull or grey-green.


Flower	Very small, white, terminal or axillary cymes.



Root	Medium depth, fibrous systems and often stoloniferous. due to close mowing.
Seed

Common Name	"Wireweed"
Botanical Name	Polygonum aviculare

Leaves	Small dull green with reddish brown discolouration. Alternate, on thin, strong, wiry stems. Stems are swollen at each node and may spread some distance, under close mowing.


Flower	Small reddish white, axillary racemes. Inconspicuous.



Root	Strong, deep, non-contractile tap-root.
Seed

Common Name	"Creeping Oxalis" "Yellow Wood Sorrel"
Botanical Name	Oxalis corniculata

Leaves	Small, light green, trifoliate. Three leaflets, heart-shaped, on short petioles of equal length. Alternate, on thin, stoloniferous. stems.


Flower	Small, yellow, axillary, bell-shaped.



Root	Strong, fine tap-root. Stems will break at the crown leaving the crown and root systems to regrow. A most invasive soft-wooded perennial.
Seed

Common Name	"Creeping Buttercup"
Botanical Name	Ranuculus repens

Leaves	Small, light green, shiny, oval and deeply divided into three dissected lobes or leaflets.


Flower	Tiny, yellow cup-like, solitary on masses of thin stoloniferous. stems.



Root	Strong, fine tap-roots that are able to regrow. after top growth has been removed. A very persistent soft-wooded perennial.
Seed

Common Name	"Pennywart" "Duckweed"
Botanical Name	Hydrocotyle tripartita

Leaves	Small, circular, smooth or sinuate, very waxy and shiny bright green. Leaves are peltate.


Flower	Inconspicuous, axillary umbels or racemes of small green or white knobs.



Root	Very strong, deep tap-root systems with extensive rhizomes developing deep within the turf. A most persistent herbaceous perennial often introduced with soils during construction or renovation.
Seed

Common Name	"Kidney Weed"
Botanical Name	Dichondra repens

Leaves	Small to medium reniform or rounded, smooth to curled margin, dark brownish or purplish green. Alternate on strong , thin, brownish, vigorous stolons.


Flower	Inconspicuous



Root	Strong, deep, vigorous, tap-roots. A most persistent herbaceous perennial with deep rhizomes and strongly stoloniferous. growth.
Seed

Common Name	"White Root Lobelia"
Botanical Name	Pratia purpurascene

Leaves	Small, narrow, eliptical, toothed and held closely to the stems. Dark green above and purple beneath.


Flower	Very small, tubular on very fine axillary stems.



Root	Strong, deep white tap-roots at each node. Very strongly stoloniferous with many white rhizomes. A most persistent herbaceous perennial.
Seed

Common Name	"Creeping Mallow"
Botanical Name	Modiola caroliniana

Leaves	Small to medium, ovate or peniform with cut margins or lobed like a grape leaf. Light , shiny green.


Flower	Small, open, axillary, cup-like, pink or red.



Root	Deep, strong tap and fibrous systems from very stoloniferous stems. Soft wooded perennial.
Seed

Common Name	"Pearlwart"
Botanical Name	Sagina procumbens

Leaves	Minute, narrow or needle-like, opposite, dark green. Forming a moss-like, close dense mat of growth.


Flower	Tiny, white, singular on short white stems.



Root	A mass of minute tap and fibrous systems with stolons and rhizomes. Soft wooded perennial. Very troublesome in shady or damp situations.
Seed

Common Name	"Chilean Whitlow"
Botanical Name	Paronychia brasiliana

Leaves	Tiny, hairy, elliptical, greenish-brown, crowded on long thin, soft, non-stoloniferous stems. Very prostrate, like a tiny, soft, wire weed.


Flower	Inconspicuous, tiny round fruit in leaf axils.



Root	Deep, strong tap-root, able to withstand drought conditions. A profuse seed setting annual or perennial. Able to persist within the turf "thatch" for long periods.
Seed

Common Name	"Isotoma"
Botanical Name	Isotoma fluviatalis

Leaves	Tiny, elliptical or rounded, toothed, moss-like, dark or light green.


Flower	Tiny, white or pale blue, 5-petalled, several on the carpet -like growth. Flowers all year round. Mostly found in higher elevations.



Root	Small, tap-roots from the spreading, fine stolons. Herbaceous perennial with a few rhizomes and persistent in damp shady positions,
Seed

Common Name	"White Clover"
Botanical Name	Trifolium repens

Leaves	Small, trifoliate leaflets, finely toothed, oval and equal length petioles. Axillary stipules, smooth with pointed apexes.


Flower	Small pea-like in solitary white balls on thin axillary stems.



Root	Tap-roots arising from stoloniferous stems. Bacterial nodules maybe found on the root systems. Soft-wooded perennial.
Seed

Common Name	"Burr Medic"
Botanical Name	Medicago denticulata

Leaves	Small. trifoliate, light green. Leaflets elliptical, toothed or serrated. Top leaflet on a longer petiole than the other two. Axillary stipules deeply toothed.


Flower	Small pea-like, yellow in solitary clusters on thin axillary stems.



Root	One deep tap-root with bacterial nodules present. Not stoloniferous but produces a fine, thick mat with small, hooked burrs present. Annual
Seed

Common Name	"Ball Clover" "Clustered Clover"
Botanical Name	Trifolium glomeratum

Leaves	Small, trifoliate, dull green with conspicuous veins. Leaflets elliptical, toothed or serrated. On equal length petioles. Axillary stipules smooth and long pointed.


Flower	Cluster of pink or white pea-like flowers in reddish brown axillary balls.



Root	Tap-root with bacterial nodules. Annual, non-stoloniferous growth
Seed

Common Name	"Sheep Sorrel" "Sorrel"
Botanical Name	Acetosella vulgaris

Leaves	Medium to small, hastate on long thin petioles, reddish green, fleshy with smooth margins.


Flower	Reddish brown nutlets on fine, terminal or axillary panicles.



Root	Deep, vigorous, yellow brown, contractile tap-roots from extensive rhizomes. A very persistent herbaceous perennial on acid and poorly drained, wet soils.
Seed

Common Name	"Chickweed"
Botanical Name	Stellaria media

Leaves	Medium to small, light green, shiny and soft, on scrambling stems, Elliptical and opposite.


Flower	Very small, white, solitary on thin axillary stems.



Root	Fine and fibrous. Non-stoloniferous. An annual that should be hand weeded.
Seed

Common Name	"Petty Spurge"
Botanical Name	Euphorbia peplus

Leaves	Small, light green, opposite, oval on many finely branched stems. Reddish stems with milky sap.


Flower	Small inconspicuous yellow green on corymb like growth.



Root	Fine fibrous or tap-root, stems break at the crown allowing the root to regrow. A persistent annual.
Seed

Broad or fine leaf with storage systems " Corms, Bulbs, Rhizomes, Tubers or Tillers

Common Name	"Nut Grass"
Botanical Name	Cyperus rotundus

Leaves	Grass-like, shiny, dark green, linear in three's, triangular stems.


Flower	Terminal umbels of feathery grass-like brown flowers.



Root	A mass of deep rhizomes with tubers attached. A true sedge not a grass.
Seed

Common Name	"Mullumbimby Couch"
Botanical Name	Cyperus brevifolius

Leaves	Grass-like, shiny light green, linear, in three's. Triangular stems. Pungent odour when crushed.


Flower	Terminal, globular or cone-shaped knobs, green to white when mature.



Root	Masses fibrous roots developing from stolons with extensive shallow rhizomes. Persistent herbaceous perennial. A true sedge not a grass.
Seed

Common Name	"Toad Rush"
Botanical Name	Juncus bufonis

Leaves	Fine to medium, grass-like in three's or two's on triangular leafless stems.


Flower	Terminal and axillary groups on small green glumes.



Root	Deep fibrous, fine systems from short stolons or clumps of tillers. Very persistent in cool, damp situations. Soft wooded perennial. Under close mowing looks like Bent grass but is very hard or tough (to feel) in texture.
Seed

Common Name	"Slender Sedge"
Botanical Name	Cyperus pracilis

Leaves	Very fine, grass-like, shiny dark green in three's on triangular stems.


Flower	Very small globular, green terminal glumes.



Root	Fine, fibrous, from tillering growth. Very persistent in cold, damp situations. Looks like Fescue under close mowing but has a very soft texture and not bristle like.
Seed

Common Name	"Slender Rush"
Botanical Name	Juncus tenuis

Leaves	Very fine, dark green leaves.


Flower	Brown glume-like flowers. Round leafless stems.



Root	Deep fibrous, fine systems from short stolons or clumps of tillers.
Seed

Common Name	"Onion Weed" "Wild Onion"
Botanical Name	Nothoscordum inodorum

Leaves	Long thin, strap-like, soft, fleshy, grey green. Onion-like odour when crushed.


Flower	Small, white, lily-like in terminal umbels on long thin, central stems.



Root	Long, fleshy, fibrous arising from many persistent bulbs. A bulbous perennial.
Seed

Common Name	"Onion Grass" "Guildford Grass"
Botanical Name	Romulea rosea

Leaves	Very fine, or needly-like, dark shiny green. Very tough leaves and difficult to mow.


Flower	Small, pink, solitary, terminal and bell-shaped. Close to the ground. Produces small cucumber-like fruit.



Root	Fine deep fibrous persistent corms. Not a grass but belonging to the Iris family.
Seed

Common Name	"Yellow Rush Lily"
Botanical Name	Sisyrinchium micranthum

Leaves	Small, short, strap-like, silver grey green on flat tillering stems. No-onion like odour.


Flower	Very small white yellow terminal umbels with small ball like fruits.



Root	Fine fibrous, from thick tillers or short rhizomes. Looks like miniaturised onion-weed, persistent under close mowing.
Seed

Common Name	"Oxalis"
Botanical Name	Oxalis pes-caprae (Yellow)Oxalis latifolia (Purple) Oxalis corymbosa (Pink) Oxalis purpurea (Purple)

Leaves	Trifoliate medium to large, light green. Leaflets heart-shaped on long succulent petioles


Flower	Terminal umbels of Pink, Purple or Yellow (depending on species) bell-shaped brightly coloured flowers.



Root	Fine to fat or fleshy top and fibrous arising from numerous deep bulbs.
Seed

Common Name	"Paspalum" "Dallasgrass"
Botanical Name	Paspalum dilatum

Leaves	Rolled in bud leaf, medium texture, grey green, long parchment ligule.


Flower	Spikelets of 3-7 arms.



Root	Deep fibrous from strong woody stolons and rhizomes. Perennial.
Seed

Common Name	"Summer Grass"
Botanical Name	Digitaria sanguinalis

Leaves	Rolled in bud leaf, medium texture. Soft grey green. Ligule very long parchment, white, pink, tipped. Hairy sheath and reddish brown stems.


Flower	Fine widely branched spikelets. Whorled arms.



Root	Fine, vigorous, fibrous from extensive stolons. Annual.
Seed

Common Name	"Winter Grass" "Annual Blue Grass"
Botanical Name	Poa annua

Leaves	Folded in bud leaf, light green, fine texture with crimped blades. Long parchment ligule.


Flower	Short panicles or spikelets.



Root	Fine, short, fibrous from tillers, annual or perennial depending on situation.
Seed

Common Name	"Crowsfoot" "Goosegrass" "Crab Grass"
Botanical Name	Eleusine indica

Leaves	Medium, dark shiny green folded in bud leaf with very short tufted hair-like ligule.


Flower	Spikelets of short arms on wiry, strong, flattened stems.



Root	Strong, deep fibrous. Annual.
Seed

Common Name	"Narrow-Leafed Carpet Grass"
Botanical Name	Axonopus affinis

Leaves	Medium to fine, folded in bud leaf. Very short tufted hairy-like ligule. Soft, shiny light green with reddish brown stems.


Flower	Short, 2 or 3 armed spikelets.



Root	Fine, fibrous from strong stolons. Perennial. Most persistent in damp conditions.
Seed

Common Name	"Parramatta Grass"
Botanical Name	Sporobolus capensis

Leaves	Medium to fine, very tough or wiry, coiled in bud leaf. Fine stems extremely tough and wiry.


Flower	Spikes very thin in tall slender stems.



Root	Tough, deep and extensive, bulbous, arising from strong tufted tillering growth. Perennial.
Seed

Common Name	"Yorkshire Fog"
Botanical Name	Holcus lanatus

Leaves	Medium, very soft and covered with fine grey/white hairs. Rolled in bud leaf with short bristle-like ligule. Stems tend to be short and prostrate under close mowing.


Flower	Short heads of spikelets or terminal panicles. White to light tan when in flower.



Root	Fine deep fibrous arising from tillering growth. Bulbous stems in mature plants. Perennial.
Seed

Common Name	"Salt Water Couch"
Botanical Name	Paspalum vaginatum

Leaves	Medium, soft to hard texture. Shiny reddish green. Leaves rolled in bud leaf. Ligule long parchment.


Flower	Short, two armed from vigorous stolons.



Root	Fibrous, deep, from extensive stolons and rhizomes. Perennial of wet or swampy lands.
Seed