Describe some characteristics of this common weed

Phytolacca americana, Pokeweed It has purple berries Thick red stems Lance shaped leaves Small white flowers in the same shape as the berry bundle

Describe this plant, leaf shape, growth form

Garlic species You will probably see this sprouting out now in lawns and open meadows. Its taller than lawn grass and if you rip it you will know it’s a type of garlic. Which two characteristics does garlic have? How do you recognize garlic?

Answer Like supermarket garlic, wild garlic will have a bulb at its base, and if you rip the leaves it will smell like garlic

Describe this plant

Daucus carrota Grows to 3-4 feet, Large clusters of white flowers in an umbel A deep tap root (the carrot)

Describe

Mugwort, Artemisia vulgaris The most common weed in North America If you look you will see it when you go home today Grows everywhere, cracks of sidewalks, open lawns/meadows, newly disturbed land It has a sweet scent if you crush the leaves

Describe

Thistles Often have spiny (armed) leaves or flower heads. Leaves similar to dandelions Very common in open meadows, lawns, gardens Dandelion, Taraxicum officinale, Not a thistle but in the same family and a common weed in the same habitat

Describe, leaves, growth form

Ailanthus altissima Tree of heaven A very weedy tree Can grow feet tall Will grow from anywhere where there is soil, including cracks in the sidewalk.

Homework We defined weeds as unwanted plants, but are they useless? – Find information on how each of the weeds we covered today are used by people for medicine or other purposes. – There is a story behind the Tree of Heaven, why was brought over to the US?