| Key
identifying traits
Flowers white occasionally pink with 5 lobed petals
Greenish-white "claws" at the base of the flower petals
Leaves are opposite and hairy
Plants can reach a height of 10-24 inches
Flowers open at night an have a pleasant odor
Stems are hairy and may become almost woody when mature
Has a tap root and lateral roots
Biology and ecology
It can be a biennial or perennial
It is a native of Europe
Reproduces mainly by seed but has lateral roots that when cultivated
can spread by the fragments
Flowers from May through October
It grows on road sides, in waste areas, forage crops and often in
pastures
Found in most of the U.S. and southern Canada
Recognized synonyms include: Lychnis alba, Silene alba, Silene
pratensis.
Control
Prevention – Learn to
identify plants; know your property
Biological – No known intentionally released biological agents
in the U.S., but there is a fungus which appears to affect it
Cultural – Good vegetative cover helps but does not prevent
establishment or spread
Mechanical – Cutting before it flowers will help prevent seed
production
Chemical – Several effective at label rates but should be
treated pre-bud to avoid seed production; may require repeat treatments
to kill root systems .
The
PNW Weed Management Handbook does not have this weed listed for
control recommendations
Where found – Found
throughout Stevens County, around barns, roadsides, pastures and waste
areas.
MSdoc
PDF |
Wisconsin State Herbarium
Robert W. Freckmann |
