Agriculture: Alfalfa Pest Management Guidelines

Common and Scientific Names of Weeds in Seedling Alfalfa

Common names link to pages with weed descriptions and photos often showing several stages of development.

Common Name Scientific Name
Amaranth, Palmer Amaranthus palmeri
Barley, hare Hordeum murinum subsp. leporinum
Barnyardgrass Echinochloa crus-galli
Bluegrass, annual Poa annua
Brome, ripgut Bromus rigidus
Burclover Medicago polymorpha
Buttercup Ranunculus californicus
Canarygrass Phalaris sp.
Celery, wild Ciclospermum leptophyllum
Chickweed, common Stellaria media
Cocklebur, common Xanthium strumarium
Dock, curly (seedling) Rumex crispus
Dovefoot Geranium molle
Fescue, rattail Vulpia myuros
Fiddleneck Amsinckia intermedia
Filarees Erodium spp.
Fleabane, hairy Conyza bonariensis
Foxtail, yellow and green Setaria spp.
Goosegrass Eleusine indica
Groundsel, common Senecio vulgaris
Henbit Lamium amplexicaule
Jimsonweed Datura stramonium
Knotweeds Polygonum spp.
Kochia Kochia scoparia
Lambsquarters, common Chenopodium album
Lettuce, prickly Lactuca serriola
Mallow, little (cheeseweed) Malva parviflora
Milkthistle Silybum marianum
Miner's lettuce Claytonia perfoliata
Mustard, black Brassica nigra
Nettle, burning Urtica urens
Nightshade, hairy Solanum sarrachoides
Oat, wild Avena fatua
Oxtongue, bristly Picris echioides
Pigweeds Amaranthus spp.
Pineapple-weed Chamomilla suaveolens
Punagrass Achnatherum brachychaetum
Radish, wild Raphanus raphanistrum
Redmaids (desert rockpurslane) Calandrinia ciliata
Rocket, London Sisymbrium irio
Rush, toad Juncus bufonius
Ryegrass, Italian Lolium multiflorum
Shepherd's-purse Capsella bursa-pastoris
Smartweed, water Polygonum amphibium var. emersum
Sowthistle Sonchus oleraceus
Speedwell, thymeleaf Veronica serpyllifolia
Spurge, petty Euphorbia peplus
Spurry, corn Spergula arvensis
Starthistle, yellow Centaurea solstitialis
Sunflower, yellow Helianthus annuus
Swinecress Coronopus spp.
Thistle, Russian Salsola spp.
Wheat, volunteer Triticum aestivum
Willowherb Epilobium spp.
Text Updated: 04/24
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