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  • Weeds versus plants

Weeds versus plants

What is the difference between a weed and a plant?

Plants which are intentionally grown in fields and gardens are called cultivated plants. All other plants which are not supposed to be there and grow unwanted, are called weeds. A weed is therefore a plant growing "in the wrong place".

A plant which you might cultivate in your garden can become a weed if it escapes to a farmer's field - don't leave the flower-heads to set seed.

Some weeds cause harm:-


  • Some are parasitic on crops.
  • Some are poisonous to cattle and sheep.
  • Some are unpalatable or even cause taints in milk or meat.
  • Some can cause a problems to animals, e.g. by getting into sheep's wool and be expensive to remove. Some thorns or spines can injure animals.
  • Some interfere with farm machinery, getting tangled in the works.
  • Some reduce the value of the crop (eg. deadly nightshade in peas, wild oats in cereals)
  • Some are a host for pests and diseases.
  • Some block drainage and irrigation channels.
  • Some grow on non-agricultural land like roadsides and embankments and need cutting down.

Investigations:

  • ? You could record garden "escapes" or oilseed rape plants along road verges,

J. Hewitson, Oundle

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