Potato Weed (Galinsoga parviflora): Weed management guide for Australian vegetable production

Abstract

<p><b>Potato weed (<i>Galinsoga parviflora</i>) is a warm-season erect annual herbaceous plant, native to Central America. It grows up to 0.6 metres in height, but is usually about 0.3 metres in height.</b> </p> <p>Leaves are opposite, symmetrical, between 1.0-11.0 cm in length and 0.5- 7.0 cm in width, oval shaped, moderately hairy, with wavy margins. Cotyledon leaves are rounded with a slightly indented tip. Flowers are yellow with white to dull pink petals, 3.5-5.0 mm in length and 2.0-6.0 mm in height. There are two types of flowers: disc flowers, forming the central portion of the flower head; and ray flowers, giving the appearance of a single petal and forming a ring around the disc flower. Potato weed may also be known in parts of Australia as 'yellow weed'. It is named for its broad resemblance to potato plants.</p> <p>Most vegetable farmers will be well aware of potato weed and how to identify it. It closely resembles 'hairy Galinsoga' (<i>Galinsoga quadriradiata</i>), though at the time of writing that species did not appear to be present in Australia. Depending on stage of growth and experience in identification, some other common annual heavy-seeding weeds of Australian vegetable production may be mis-identified as potato weed, including fat hen (<i>Chenopodium album</i>), amaranth (<i>Amaranthus</i> spp.), or blackberry nightshade (<i>Solanum nigrum</i>).</p>