Weeds - Weed Science Society of America

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The Weed Science blog provided a link to their fact sheet about noxious, invasive, super and just plain weeds at  http://wssa.net/wp-content/uploads/WSSA-Weed-Science-Definitions.pdf

"Certain characteristics determine which term is most accurate – or whether the weed in question might actually fit into multiple categories."

Giant Foxtail
" a weed as a plant that causes economic losses or ecological damage, creates health problems for humans or animals, or is undesirable where it is growing. Examples: Crabgrass (Digitaria) Giant foxtail (Setaria faberii) Common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album)"

"Once a weed is classified as noxious, authorities can implement quarantines and take other actions to contain or destroy the weed and limit its spread. Examples: Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata) Witchweed (Striga spp.)"

Hydrilla
"Invasive weed Invasive weeds are weeds that establish, persist and spread widely in natural ecosystems outside the plant’s native range. When in a foreign locale, these invaders often lack natural enemies to curtail their growth – enabling them to overrun native plants and ecosystems. It should be no surprise that many invasive weeds are also classified as noxious weeds by government authorities. Examples: Tree-of-Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) Saltcedar/Tamarisk (Tamarix ramosissima) Downy Brome/Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum)."

"Invasive weeds are not native to the ecosystem under consideration and cause or are likely to cause harm to human, animal or plant health, the economy or the environment."

Click over to the link at the top to read the rest and see the photos of all the weeds and their level of noxiousness.

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