Common weeds and their scientific names with pictures in Nigeria

Common weeds and their scientific names with pictures in Nigeria

Did you know weeds are plants considered undesirable in a specific situation? Agriculture in Nigeria accounts for a significant proportion of the nation's gross domestic product. Farmers often need to fight against weeds to reap optimal farming outputs. Therefore, they need to know the common weeds and their scientific names with pictures in Nigeria.

common weeds and their scientific names with pictures in nigeria
A collage of common weeds and their scientific names. Photo: @Getty Images (modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

A basic understanding of the common weeds and their scientific names with pictures in Nigeria is crucial for all commercial and subsistence farmers. This information will help you eradicate the weeds on your farm.

Common weeds and their scientific names with pictures in Nigeria

Weeds are a menace to crop farmers because they compete with their crops for space and nutrients. Check out the common Nigerian weeds and their botanical names below.

Siam we*d (Chromolaena odorata)

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10 grasses and their botanical names
A Chromolaena odorata plant. Photo: @Getty Images
Source: Getty Images

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Siam we*d or Chromolaena odorata features among the top weeds and their botanical names with pictures in Nigeria. It can grow up to three metres tall in open fields.

This plant thrives in tropical and subtropical regions. It invades riparian zones, forest margins, bushland, waste sites, roadsides, disturbed sites, neglected pastures, crops and plantations.

Spear grass (Imperata cylindrica)

grasses and their botanical names
A field with Spear grass. Photo: @Getty Images
Source: Getty Images

If you are looking for a list of grasses and their botanical names with pictures, you will come across Spear grass or Imperata cylindrica. This is a perennial grass that shoots to a height of up to one metre.

The grass has an extensive and deeply-penetrating system of rhizomes. Its leaves are in tufts, and it has dense, white, fluffy, cylindrical, spike-like heads. It is persistent in upland crops like maize, cassava, rice, and sorghum.

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Dayflower (Commelina benghalensis)

10 grasses and their botanical names
A closeup photo of a dayflower plant. Photo: Getty Images
Source: Getty Images

Dayflower, or Commelina benghalensis, is a perennial creeping herb. It has lily-like leaves and reddish hairs towards the tip.

Dayflower invades areas with moist soil, e.g. grasslands, roadsides, and other disturbed areas. It is problematic in pastures and crop fields because it forms dense, pure stands that can smother food plants.

Jimson w*ed/ burundanga (Datura stramonium)

common nigerian weeds and their botanical names
A picture of Datura stramonium. Photo: @Getty Images
Source: Getty Images

Jimson w*ed or burundanga is also known as Datura stramonium. The plant can reach a height of 5 feet. It bears white or purple flowers and has prickly seed pods that split open at maturity.

This plant is considered poisonous and has medicinal uses. It is an aggressive invasive plant in temperate climates across the world.

Nutgrass (Cyperus rotundus)

grasses and their botanical names
A closeup picture of Cyperus rotundus. Photo: @Getty Images
Source: Getty Images

Nutgrass, or Cyperus rotundus, cannot miss on the list of grasses and their botanical names in Nigeria. It is a colony-forming perennial plant that adversely impacts agriculture.

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It affects plantation crops in tropical and warm temperate climates around the world. Nutgrass is challenging to manage with either organic or conventional we*d control strategies.

Milkweed (Euphorbia heterophylla)

grasses and their botanical names with pictures
A closeup picture of Euphorbia heterophylla. Photo: @Getty Images
Source: Getty Images

Milkweed, or Euphorbia heterophylla, thrives in orchards, cop plantations, roadsides, gardens, and waste areas. It occasionally grows in temperate regions.

The milkweed plant is short-lived with an upright and branched main stem. It usually grows 20-80 cm tall but can reach up to two metres in height.

Bahama grass (Cynodon dactylon)

botanical name of bahama grass
Fresh leaves of Cynodon dactylon plant. Photo: @Getty Images
Source: Getty Images

Bahama grass is a tropical grass found in all tropical and subtropical areas. Bahama grass' botanical name is Cynodon dactylon. It is dominant in uncultivated areas, e.g. sea-coast sandy dunes, roadsides, and along rivers.

It is tolerant to drought and heavy grazing. As a result, it is valuable for pasture and is used for hay. On the flip side, this grass is a menace in plant farming.

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Elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum)

weeds and their botanical names with pictures in nigeria
A picture of elephant grass shining in morning light rays. Photo: @Getty Images
Source: Getty Images

Elephant grass is one of the top 10 grasses and their botanical names every Nigerian should know. Its botanical name is Pennisetum purpureum.

It is among the highest-yielding tropical grasses and can grow in dry or wet conditions. It forms dense, thick clumps up to one metre across. It has finely-toothed leaf margins and a prominent midrib on the leaf blade.

Carpet grass (Axonopus compressus)

botanical name of carpet grass
Axonopus Compressus grass on a lawn. Photo: @Getty Images
Source: Getty Images

Carpet grass, or Axonopus compressus, is common on roadsides, gardens, waste areas and plantations. It thrives in moist, warm environments with full sunlight.

Carpet grass is among the most persistent grasses. It can withstand trampling. It cannot withstand long periods of waterlogged conditions but grows on a wide range of soils.

African Club Moss (Selaginella kraussiana)

grasses and their botanical names
A closeup picture of Selaginella kraussiana. Photo: @Getty Images
Source: Getty Images

If you are looking for an album of weeds and their botanical names, you will definitely come across African Club Moss. Its botanical name is Selaginella kraussiana, a plant native to Africa.

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This plant is a cousin to the true ferns. It is low-growing and mat-forming and thrives in rich, moist to wet soils. Trimming does not control its rapid spread because retained cuttings root and sprout quickly.

Buffalo grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum)

grasses and their botanical names with pictures
A picture of Stenotaphrum secundatum grass. Photo: @Getty images
Source: Getty Images

Buffalo grass, or Stenotaphrum secundatum, invades roadsides, gardens, river banks, swamps, coastal areas, and other disturbed sites. It is considered an environmental w*ed.

While it can be used for lawns, it is a menace to crop farmers because it competes for nutrients and space with food crops.

Creeping foxglove (Asystasia gangetica)

10 grasses and their botanical names
A closeup picture of Asystasia gangetica. Photo: @Getty Images
Source: Getty Images

Creeping foxglove, or Asystasia gangetica, is a fast-growing, spreading, herbaceous groundcover plant. It is known for attracting many species of butterflies to the garden. It produces white flowers and is regarded as an environmental we*d.

Falsethistle (Acanthus montanus)

common nigerian weeds and their botanical names
The Acanthus montanus plant. Photo: @Getty Images
Source: Getty Images

Falsethistle, or Acanthus montanus, is native to tropical areas in Western Africa. It is a thinly branched perennial with basal clusters of oblong, dark green leaves with silver marks and wavy margins. The leaves are also thorny.

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While this prickly semi-woody herb has medicinal value in some communities, it is a nuisance to food crop farmers.

Nuke-Noh (Tridax procumbens)

common nigerian weeds and their botanical names
A closeup picture of Tridax procumbens. Photo: @Getty Images
Source: Getty Images

Nuke-Noh, or Tridax procumbens, is a flowering plant in the daisy family. It has great drought resistance and tends to outlive all grasses and most broad-leaved plants. In Nigeria, this plant is fed to poultry. Some communities use it for medicinal purposes.

What are the common weeds found on farms?

Some common weeds found on farms are Nuke-Noh, Falsethistle, Creeping foxglove, Buffalo grass, African Club Moss, Dayflower, Carpet grass, Elephant grass, Bahama grass, burundanga, Milkweed, and Nutgrass.

What are the common weeds and their botanical names?

The most common weeds and their botanical names are Carpet grass (Axonopus compressus), Bahama grass (Cynodon dactylon), Siam we*d (Chromolaena odorata), Spear grass (Imperata cylindrica), Dayflower (Commelina benghalensis), Nutgrass (Cyperus rotundus), and Milkweed (Euphorbia heterophylla).

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What is the botanical name of Bahama grass?

The botanical name of Bahama grass is Cynodon dactylon.

What is the botanical name of Carpet grass?

The botanical name of Carpet grass is Axonopus compressus. This grass is common on roadsides, gardens, waste areas and plantations.

Learning about the common weeds and their scientific names with pictures in Nigeria is necessary for all farmers. This information is useful in coming up with w*eed management strategies.

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