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Weeds

Common chickweed (Stellaria media), the most common broad-leaved arable weed, it's seeds have little periodicity in emergence and so infestations can establish in almost any month of the year.
Common chickweed (Stellaria media), the most common broad-leaved arable weed, it's seeds have little periodicity in emergence and so infestations can establish in almost any month of the year.
Black bindweed (Fallopia convolvulus), a threat to open crops like potato.
Black bindweed (Fallopia convolvulus), a threat to open crops like potato.

BLACKGRASS (Juncus gerardii)

Blackgrass is one of the most damaging weeds of winter cereals in the UK. Its distribution is closely linked to that of winter cereals. Although individual plants are not particularly competitive, it frequently occurs at densities in excess of 500 plants/m², causing severe loss of yields. Traditionally, it has been a weed of autumn sown crops, but in recent years has started to occur more frequently in those sown in spring.

 

WILD OATS (Avena fatua)

Wild oats is one of the most aggressive arable weeds. Worldwide it remains one of the most 'successful' weeds and continues to be very common in arable fields. Historically it is one of the weed species that has been encouraged by the increasing dominance of autumn sown cereal cropping. Further information

 

BLACK-BINDWEED (Fallopia convolvulus)

Black bindweed can form very large clumps in open crops such as potatoes but is less aggressive in spring cereals. Their germination 'window' and only occurs in spring-sown crops.

 

CLEAVERS (Galium aparine)

Cleavers is one of the most aggressive arable weeds in autumn sown crops. In spring sown crops it is less of an immediate concern, but the effective management of cleavers is a very important consideration for creating sustainable arable rotations. Control of cleavers in break crops can be particularly difficult or expensive.

 

COMMON CHICKWEED (Stellaria media)

Common chickweed is the most common broad-leaved arable weed. Seeds have little periodicity in emergence and so infestations can establish in almost any month of the year, provided temperatures are not too low and there is adequate moisture. Seeds can be produced for long periods of time. In autumn sown cereals, flowers can be present in late winter and the plants will still be flowering in the following June.

 

MATRICARIA (Of the family Asteraceae)

Matricaria is part of the sunflower family. Most are very common in the temperate regions of Europe, Asia, and America, as well as in northern and southern Africa, and some are naturalised in Australia. These are hardy, pleasantly aromatic annuals. Their many-branched stems are prostrate to erect, glabrous, and very leafy. Their bipinnate leaves have numerous linear, narrowly lobed leaflets. The flowers are radially symmetrical. The greenish-yellow capitula are semi-spherical. The white ray florets can be present (M. recutita) or lacking (M. discoidea). The disc florets are 4- to 5-dentate. The receptacle is 2-3 times as high as wide. The pappus may be crown-shaped and short, or lacking.