I would like to know if the plant in the photo is the plant that produces the pictured seeds. I collected the seeds last year. Most were stuck into tires and shoes. If the seeds do not come from this plant, do you know where they came from?

Reporter
June 19, 2009, 7:49 a.m.

How long does it usually take to get a response and an identification? This stuff is really taking over and I'm almost ready to use some Crossbow or RoundUp. I hate doing that, but those seeds have hurt my dogs for the last time!

Reporter
June 23, 2009, 8:07 a.m.

Dear Ed,

I forwarded your report to a botanist in the area (Molly Sullivan at The Nature Conservancy) and she just got back to me this morning. Please see her response below. (Response time can be variable depending on how busy people are, but we do our best to get back within a week).


Molly wrote: "I think the plant photographed is birdsfoot trefoil, Lotus corniculatus, a common pasture plant. Birdsfoot trefoil is a legume and makes a "pea pod". The seeds shown sure look like puncturevine to me and do not belong to the photographed plant."

You may also have puncture vine in area, and that is probably what is producing the seeds. This is a state listed noxious weed and should be controlled.

Thanks for using the reporting hotline!

Tania


Tania Siemens
Invasive Species Research Assistant
Oregon Sea Grant Extension
Oregon State University
tania.siemens@oregonstate.edu
cell: 541-914-0701

Tania Siemens
June 23, 2009, 8:17 a.m.

Thank you. I originally thought it was Puncturevine, but I looked all over and wasn't able to find any. This Birdsfoot sort of resembled it. I Googled Birdsfoot Trefoil just now, and now I'm pretty sure that's what I have been looking at and pulling up. I still can't find any Puncturevine though. Thank you very much for your help. Ed Shelby.

Reporter
June 23, 2009, 9:29 a.m.