Weed Id guide
plant type
Broadleaf

Broadleaf

Grass or grass-like

Grass or grass-like



Habitat

Leaf arrangement
Arranged oppositely along the stem.

Opposite

Arranged alternately along the stem.

Alternate

Whorled around the stem

Whorled

Arranged around the base of the plant only.

Basal



Leaf characteristics
Simple

Simple

Compound

Compound



Lobed
Not lobed

Not lobed

Pinnately lobed

Pinnate

Palmately lobed

Palmate



Leaf Shape
Lanceolate

Lanceolate

Round

Round

Heart-shaped

Heart-shaped

Oval

Oval

Linear

Linear

Spatulate

Spatulate

Triangular

Triangular



Leaf Margins
Entire

Entire

Leaf lobed

Leaf lobed

Serrated/Toothed

Serrated/Toothed

Wavy/Undulate

Wavy/Undulate



Presence of petioles
Yes

Present

No

None



Leaf Hairiness on the Upper Surface
Have hairs

Present

Without hairs

None



Stem hairiness
Have hairs

Present

Without hairs

None



Flower color

Growth Habit

Presence of spines
Yes

Present

No

None



Lifecycle

Root system
Fibrous root system

Fibrous root system

Fibrous roots with stolons

Fibrous with stolons

Fibrous roots with rhizomes

Fibrous with rhizomes

A taproot

Taproot



Milky sap
Yes

Present

No

None



Ochrea presence
Yes

Present

No

None



Habitat

Lifecycle

Leaf Type
Flat, shiny, and have distinct ridges

Flat, shiny, distinct ridges

Round in cross section and hollow

Round and hollow

Resemble those of most common grasses

Common



Leaf Width at Maturity

Leaf Hairiness on the Upper Surface
Hairy

Hairy

Without hairs

Without hairs

Hairy near the collar region only

Hairy collar



Ligule Presence
Yes

Present

No

None



Type of Ligule

Length of Ligule

Auricle Presence
Yes

Present

No

None



Leaves Rolled or Folded in the Shoot
Rolled in the shoot

Rolled in shoot

Folded in the shoot

Folded in shoot



Stem/Sheath Type
Flat

Flat

Round

Round

Triangular

Triangular



Seedheads
Bristly panicle resembling a fox’s tail

Bristly panicle

Spike

Spike

Spikes clustered together resembling fingers

Clustered spikes

Colorful flowers with petals

Flowers with petals

Spiny burs at the ends of stems

Spiny burs

Several spikelets at the end of triangular stems

Several spikes

Triangular panicle comprised of several spikelets

Panicle



Root System
Fibrous root system

Fibrous

Fibrous roots with tubers

Fibrous tubers

Fibrous roots and stolons

Fibrous stolons

Fibrous roots and rhizomes

Fibrous rhizomes

Bulb

Bulb