Key identifying traits
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Plants grow erect from 1-5’
tall, branching only in the flowering part of the plant unless
it has been cropped
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Leaves are alternate and prickly
on the lower side of the midrib
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Leaves are twisted at the base
so they lie vertically
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Plants contain a milky juice
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Flowers are small yellow ray
flowers
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Seed
heads resemble small dandelions
Biology and ecology
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A biennial or winter annual
spreading by seeds
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A plant commonly growing in
waste areas, gardens, irrigated crops and along road sides
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This plant is from Europe and is
now naturalized over most of North America
-
It can be a problem in irrigated
crops and orchards
-
It has been known to hybridize
with cultivated lettuce
Control
Prevention –
Learn to identify plants; start monitoring early in the season
Biological –
No known biological control in our area
Cultural –
Plant competitive grass or other cover crop
Mechanical –
Does not tolerate tillage and will pull up fairly easily.
Chemical – the
PNW Weed Management handbook lists Curtail (clopyralid + 2,4-D)
and Finesse (chlorsulfuron + metsulfuron) as being good for control
of Salsify
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