Many common weed flowers also have medicinal purposes.
There are hundreds of species of weed flowers. A good definition for "weed" is anything you do not want in your garden and on your lawn. Some prefer more manicured lawns and gardens while others like a natural lawn. Weeds also tend to take over an area of your lawn or garden, often crowding other flowers. Some weeds are classified as noxious weeds, that is they are toxic to livestock in addition to killing cultivated plants. One of the most common noxious weeds is the oxeye daisy.
Instructions
Identifying Oxeye Daisy
1. Identifying which animals consume the daisy will help you identify it.
Identifying oxeye daisies begins with when and where they bloom. It is generally a meadow flower; however, it is also found under scrubs and in open-canopy forests. These daisies typically bloom in early to mid spring. If you are in a meadow or pasture, observe which animals eat the plant. Cows and pigs do not eat the oxeye daisy but sheep, goats and horses will eat them.
2. Stems of the oxeye daisy should be slightly hairy or not at all.
Observe the stalk. Oxeye daisies have thin, brownish-green stalks with alternating leaves. The leaves are lance-shaped with course teeth. There are usually a few lobes at the base of the flower. Stems can be either hairless or slightly hairy and are about a foot high.
3. How long is the daisy's disk?
Look at the flower. Oxeye daisies have 20 to 30 white "rays" surrounding a bright yellow disk in the middle. The disk is generally 1 to 2 inches in diameter.
4. Crush the flower. These daises have an unpleasant odor when crushed.
General Weed Identification
5. Take a picture of the plant you believe to be a weed and compare it to pictures of known weeds. There are numerous online resources for identifying weeds.
6. Observe the type of soil the plant is growing in. Some weeds prefer acidic soil while others thrive in damp or wet soil. Understanding what kind of soil weeds prefer will help you better identify them. See the Resources section for information on identifying soil types.
7. Taking pictures of your weeds will help you better identify them.
If you are still unsure as to the type of weed you are dealing with, take your photo of your weed to a local nursery or garden supply store. The staff will be able to identify the weed and provide tips for deal with it.
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