Sheridan County Nebraska
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Nebraska Noxious Weed List
Canada thistle <i>Cirsium arvense L. </i>
Canada thistle is a non-native perennial forb, which originated in Eurasia and North Africa. This very aggressive weed spreads by rhizomes and seeds. The extensive root system produces as much growth under-ground as there is growth above ground, making this noxious weed a tough one to control.
Diffuse Knapweed <i>Centaurea diffusa</i> Lam.
Diffuse knapweed is a non-native biennial or short lived perennial noxious weed that originated in Eurasia. It rapidly invades pasture, rangeland, roadsides and meadows. It can cause a serious decline in forage and crop production, and is not preferred by livestock as forage.
Giant or Japanese Knotweed
Giant or Japanese knotweed is an upright shrub-like perennial that can grow up to 10 feet tall. It is native to Asia. This knotweed is very invasive, and can form large dense colonies. The alternate leaves on the stems are up to 6 inches long and 3-4 inches wide, triangular or heart shaped.
Leafy Spurge    <i>Euphorbia esula L. </i>
Leafy spurge in a non-native perennial forb, brought here for Eurasia. This plant spreads two ways. First by seeds, which explode up to 15 feet away from the plant when the plant is mature. The seeds are also spread by wildlife and birds. Leafy spurge also spreads by an aggressive underground root system. Researchers have dug roots as long as 28 feet, with rhizomes shooting up along these roots, in an effort to start new plants.
Musk thistle <i>Carduus nutans L </i>
Musk thistle is a non-native noxious weed that originated in Eurasia. It often grows in pastures, rangeland, open woodlands, roadsides, and disturbed areas.
Phragmites  <i>Phragmites australis</i> (Cav.)
Also known as common reed, this perennial grass has a native species in Nebraska, as well as a non-native species which was introduced from Europe. Phragmites grows along banks of ponds, lakes, streams, marshes, roadsides, ditches and in wet fields. In the past several years, many of these species have hybridized, and have spread rapidly crowding out native plants, altering wildlife habitat, and altering water flow in streams and on river systems in Nebraska.
Plumeless thistle   <i>Carduus acanthoides L. </i>
Plumeless thistle is a biennial forb, which originated in Eurasia. This noxious thistle grows 3-4 feet tall, with purple flowers that bloom from June to August in Nebraska. Spiny-winged leaves, just beneath the head of a plumeless thistle plant, is a characteristic separating it from the similar musk thistle. Another distinguishing characteristic of plumeless thistle is the deeply serrated leaves.
Purple Loosestrife  <i>Lythrum salicaria</i>
Purple loosestrife is a perennial herb native to Europe. It grows 3-7 feet tall, with a dense bushy growth of 1-50 stems. Showy magenta flowers have 5-6 petals and bloom from July to September. Purple loosestrife has a large, woody taproot with fibrous rhizomes that form a dense mat. A single plant can produce over 100,000 seeds per year. Bushy mature plants can produce over a million seeds per year.
Saltcedar (<i>tamarisk</i>)
Saltcedar (tamarisk) is a perennial shrub or small tree, growing from 3
Sericea lespedeza  <i>Lespedeza cuneata</i>
Sericea lespedeza is an introduced perennial legume native to eastern Asia. Sericea was planted in the past to control soil erosion, provide forage for livestock, and provide cover and food for wildlife. From these plantings, it has spread by animals, and movement of contaminated hay to native prairies, forests and pastures and roadsides.
Spotted knapweed <i>Centaurea maculosa auct.</i> Non Lam
Spotted knapweed is a biennial or short lived perennial non-native noxious weed which originated in Eurasia. It grows from 1-4 feet tall, with the fine gray-green foliage and lavender flowers that bloom from June to September. Spotted knapweed grows on disturbed areas, overgrazed rangeland, roadsides, meadows and sandy soils in Nebraska.
Sheridan County Noxious Weed List
Field bindweed <i>convolvulus arvensis </i> L.
In 1976 Sheridan County landowners signed a petition to have field bindweed listed as a noxious weed in Sheridan County. By listing it as a
Houndstongue  <i>cynoglossum officinale</i> L.
In 2009, Sheridan County officially added houndstongue as a
Scotch thistle <i>Onopordum acanthium</i> L.
Scotch thistle was added to the Sheridan County noxious weed list in 2009. This giant thistle was spreading quickly through many areas in Sheridan County. It grows 2-10 feet tall, and has pinkish purple blooms between June and August. The foliage of Scotch thistle is grayish-green. The wavy leaves of the rosette are as much as 20 inches long and 6 inches wide, which is an identification factor. The stems are winged and very spiny.
Watch List
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