ARS | Publication request: RANGELAND WEEDS

Submitted to: Bureau of Land Management Service Research Notes
Publication Type: Research Notes
Publication Acceptance Date: March 12, 2004
Publication Date: September 15, 2004
Citation: Young, J.A., Clements, C.D. 2004. Rangeland weeds. United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Research Note #69.

Technical Abstract: A weed is a plant growing in an environmental setting where it is not wanted. This is very judgmental, as one weed can be anothers prize plant. There are some appropriate definitions of weed types that are necessary to be aware of. Classification of life forms; herbaceous annual, herbaceous perennial, or woody perennial are traditional categories that rangeland weeds would be placed under. Also, classification by life cycle; annual, biennial, or perennial are basic life forms that must be known. Classification by colonizing ability, origin, legal terms, common names and scientific names also need to properly be identified. It is very important to properly communicate the plant at which you are directing. If you understand and properly use the classification terminology, you can remove much of the fog and misunderstandings in communicating weeds and natural resource management.