Description
Annual, common seed weed, erect growth, 20-220 cm (7.87 - 86.6 inch) high depending on growing conditions.
Damage
This aggressive weed is native to tropical America, but is found throughout the United States in disturbed areas. It greatly reduces yield and quality and interferes with combine harvesting. Because of its rapid growth and deep root system (more than 1 m; 39.37 inch) it competes for water and nutrition, therefore it is very resistant to drought. Redroot pigweed accumulates nitrate and may cause bloat in cattle.
Characteristic Features
Compact, caespitous inflorescence.
Cotyledons
Cotyledons longoval, 10-12 mm (0.39 - 0.47 inch), at the underside often redviolet.
Stems
Erect, single or branched, light green to reddish, more or less short and rough hairy.
Leaves
Long petiolate leaves, ovate, pointed, gray-green.
