Ontario Weeds: Pineappleweed
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Excerpt from Publication 505, Ontario Weeds, Order this publication
Table of Contents
- Scientific name
- Other names
- Family
- General description
- Habitat
- Stems and roots
- Leaves
- Flowers and fruit
- Often confused with / distinguishing features
- Herbicide resistance
- Photos
- Related links
Scientific name:
- Matricaria matricariodes
Other names:
- matricaire odorante, matricaire suave, Chamomilla suaveolens Rydb.
Family:
- Composite or Aster Family (Compositae)
General description:
- This is an annual reproducing only by seed.
Habitat:
- Pineappleweed occurs throughout Ontario around farmyards, waste areas and roadsides. It is occasionally found in compacted soil along the edges of pathways.
-
Stems are erect and very branched
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Stems are 5-40 cm (2-16in.) high
-
Smooth and hairless
Leaves
- Leaves are alternate (1 per node)
- Finely dissected leaves
- Leaves are light green in colour, hairless and slightly fleshy
-
Flower heads are small, 5-9mm (1/5-¾in.)
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Conic or egg-shaped flowers
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Yellow-green colour without florets
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Flowers from spring until autumn.
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The flower heads and other parts of the plant, when crushed, distinctly smells of pineapple. This is its most distinguishing feature. Other distinguishing features include its small height, small flower heads that lack ray florets and smooth hairless stems below the flower heads.
-
No documented cases of herbicide resistance to date in Ontario.
Photos
Figure 1: Pineappleweed at the 2-leaf
stage
Figure 2: Pineappleweed stem with
alternate leaf orientation
Figure 3: Pineappleweed flower
Figure 4: Whole mature plant of pineappleweed
Related Links
-
General Weed topics
For more information:
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E-mail: ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca