Scientific Names and Pronunciations:
|
Common Name |
Family Name |
Common |
Genus |
Meaning |
Species |
Meaning |
|
blueweed (B) |
Boraginacea family (Bor-AJ-in-nee-see-ee) |
Forget-me-not family |
Echium ECH-ee-um |
From Greek echis (viper), the nutlets resemble a viper's head |
vulgare vul-GAIR-ee |
Common |
|
buffalobur (A) |
Solanaceae family (so-lan-AY-see-ee) |
The nightshade family |
Solanum so-LAN-num |
Solace, quietude; referring to the narcotic properties of some species |
rostratum ro-STRAY-tum |
With a beak |
|
brazilian elodia (B) |
Hydrocharitaceae (hy-droh-KAIR-i-ta cee-ee) |
Frog’s-bit family Fresh and saltwater Aquatic herbs |
Egeria ee-JEE-ree-uh |
Named for a Roman nymph or goddess and adviser to Numa Pompilius |
densa DEN-suh |
Compact, dense |
|
bugloss, annual (B) |
Boraginacea family (Bor-AJ-in-nee-see-ee) |
Forget-me-not family |
Anchusa an-KOO-suh |
Plant used for cosmetic; as a rouge perhaps |
arvensis ar-VEN-sis |
Of farmed or cultivated land |
| bugloss, common (B) |
Boraginacea family (Bor-AJ-in-nee-see-ee) |
Forget-me-not family |
Anchusa an-KOO-suh |
Plant used for cosmetic; as a rouge perhaps |
officinalis oh-fiss-ih-NAH-liss |
Official - used in pharmacological sense |
|
chervil, wild (B) |
Apiaceae family (ay-pee-AY-see-eye) |
Carrot/celery family (formerly Umbelliferae) |
Anthriscus an-THRISS-cus |
From the Greek and Latin name for another but unidentified plant |
sylvestris sil-VESS-triss |
Of the woods, growing wild |
|
common fennel (B) |
Apiaceae family ay-pee-AY-see-ee |
Carrot/celery family (formerly Umbelliferae) |
Foeniculum fen-IK-yoo-lum |
Diminutive form of Latin foenum, hay; referring to the smell |
vulgare vul-GAIR-ee |
Common |
|
cordgrass, common (A) |
Gramineae Family (gram-IN-ay-ee) |
Poaceae family True Grasses |
Spartina spar-TEE-nuh |
From the Greek meaning a cord made from this grass |
anglica AN-glee-kuh |
Of or from England |
|
cordgrass, smooth (A) |
Gramineae Family (gram-IN-ay-ee) |
Poaceae family True Grasses |
Spartina spar-TEE-nuh |
From the Greek meaning a cord made from this grass |
alterniflora al-tern-ih-FLOR-uh |
Alternating flowers |
| geranium, shiny (A) |
Geraniaceae family (jer-ay-nee-AY-see-ee) |
Geranium family |
Geranium jer-AY-nee-um |
From the Greek meaning crane; referring to the beak-like fruit |
lucidum loo-sid-um |
Bright, clear lustrous |
|
gorse (B) |
Fabaceae (fab-AY-see-ee) |
Legume, pea, or bean family |
Ulex YOO-leks |
The ancient Latin name for this plant |
europaeus- yoo-ROH-pay-us |
Of or from Europe |
|
hawkweed, mouse ear (B) |
Asteraceae family (ass-ter-AY-see-ee) |
Aster, daisy, or sunflower family |
Hieracium hi-er-uh-KEE-um |
From the Greek meaning a hawk, referring to belief that hawks fed on the plant to strengthen eyesight |
pilosella pil-oh-SEL-uh |
Hairy, small hairs |
| hawkweed, orange (B) |
Asteraceae family (ass-ter-AY-see-ee) |
Aster, daisy, or sunflower family |
Hieracium hi-er-uh-KEE-um |
From the Greek meaning a hawk, referring to belief that hawks fed on the plant to strengthen eyesight |
aurantiacum aw-ran-ti-AYE-kum |
Orange-red colored |
|
hawkweed, yellow devil (A) |
Asteraceae family (ass-ter-AY-see-ee) |
Aster, daisy, or sunflower family |
Hieracium hi-er-uh-KEE-um |
From the Greek meaning a hawk, referring to belief that hawks fed on the plant to strengthen eyesight |
floribundum flor-ih-BUN-dum |
Free flowering or many flowers |
|
helmet, policeman’s (B) |
Balsaminaceae family (BAL-sum-in-ay-see-ee) |
Balsam family Primulaceae |
Impatiens im-PAY-shuns |
Impatient, referring to the seed pods habit of bursting open |
glandulifera gland-yoo-LIF-er-uh |
Bearing little glands |
|
hogweed, giant (A) |
Apiaceae family (ay-pee-AY-see-ee) |
Carrot/celery family (formerly Umbelliferae) |
Heracleum Hair-uh-KLEE-um |
Named for Hercules, who was supposed to have used it first for medicine |
mantegazzianum man-tee-gaz-zee-AH-num |
Named Paolo /anthropologist) |
| knapweed, diffuse (B) |
Asteraceae family (ass-ter-AY-see-ee) |
Aster, daisy, or sunflower family |
Centaurea sen-TAR-ee-uh |
Latin, referring to the Centaur Chiron who discovered the medicinal use of the Centaury plant |
diffusa dy-FEW-sa |
Loosely spreading |
|
knapweed, meadow (B) |
Asteraceae family (ass-ter-AY-see-ee) |
Aster, daisy, or sunflower family |
Centaurea sen-TAR-ee-uh |
Latin, referring to the Centaur Chiron who discovered the medicinal use of the Centaury plant |
pratensis pray-TEN-sis |
Referring to a meadow |
|
knapweed, spotted (B) |
Asteraceae family (ass-ter-AY-see-ee) |
Aster, daisy, or sunflower family |
Centaurea sen-TAR-ee-uh |
Latin, referring to the Centaur Chiron who discovered the medicinal use of the Centaury plant |
maculosa mak-yoo-LOH-suh |
Spotted |
|
loosestrife, garden (B) |
Primulaceae (Prim-yew-lay-see-ee) |
Primrose family |
anchusa an-KOO-suh |
Named for King Lysimachus, who used the plant to calm his oxen |
vulgaris vul-GAIR-iss |
Common |
|
loosestrife, purple (B) |
Primulaceae (Prim-yew-lay-see-ee) |
Primrose family |
Lythrum Ly-thrum |
From the Greed word for blood in a gory sense, from wounds etc. |
salicaria sa-lih-KAR-ee-uh |
Willow-like |
|
milfoil, variable-leaf (A) |
Haloragaceae family (HAL-uh-ruh-gay-see-ee) | Watermilfoil family |
Myriophyllum my-ree-oh-FIL-um |
Numberless leaves |
heterophyllum het-er-oh-FY-luh |
Differently leaved |
|
mustard, garlic (A) |
Brassicaceae family (brass-ih-KAY-see-ee) | Cabbage family (formerly Cruciferae) |
Alliaria al-ee-AR-ee-uh |
Of the Allium(Latin for garlic) family |
petiolata pet-ee-oh-LAH-tuh |
Has leaf stalks (petioles) |
|
nutsedge, yellow (B) |
Cyperaceous family (SIGH-per-ay-see-ee) | Sedge family |
Cyperus sy-PEER-us |
From the ancient Greek name for sedge |
esculentus es-kew-LEN-tus |
Edible |
|
parrotfeather (B) |
Haloragaceae family (HAL-uh-ruh-gay-see-ee) | Watermilfoil family |
Myriophyllum my-ree-oh-FIL-um |
Numberless leaves |
arvensis ar-VEN-sis |
Lives in water |
|
pepperweed, perennial (B) |
Brassicaceae family (brass-ih-KAY-see-ee) | Cabbage family (formerly Cruciferae) |
Lepidium lep-PID-ee-um |
From the Greek lepis (scale) referring to the shape of the seed pods |
latifolium lat-ih-FOH-lee-um |
Wide leaves |
| perennial sowthistle (A) |
Asteraceae family (ass-ter-AY-see-ee) |
Aster, daisy, or sunflower family |
Sonchus SON-chus |
From the Greed sonchos, meaning hollow in reference to the stem |
Arvensis Ar-VEN-sis |
Of farmed or cultivated land |
| poison hemlock (B) |
Apiaceae family (ay-pee-AY-see-ee) |
Carrot/celery family (formerly Umbelliferae) |
Conium koh-NI-um |
From the ancient Greek koneion, the name given Poison Hemlock, referring to the plant and the poison derived from it |
maculatum mak-yuh-LAY-tum |
Spotted |
|
reed, common (B) |
Poaceae family (poh-AY-see-ee) |
Grass family |
Phragmites frag-MY-tees |
A screen or temporary defense |
australis aw-STRAL-iss |
Of or from the south, or Australia |
| skeletonweed, rush (B) |
Asteraceae family (ass-ter-AY-see-ee) |
Aster, daisy, or sunflower family |
Chondrilla kon-DREE-luh |
From the Greek, meaning endive or chicory |
juncea JUN-kee-uh |
Rush-like |
| scotch thistle (B) |
Asteraceae family (ass-ter-AY-see-ee) |
Aster, daisy, or sunflower family |
Onopordum On-OH-por-dum |
Donkey fodder or donkey flatulence |
ancanthium a-KANT-tee-um |
From the Greek word meaning thorny, spiny |
|
spurge laurel (B) |
Thymelaeaceae family (ty-MEL-ay- uh-see-ee) | Laurel family |
Daphne DAF-nee |
Named for a nymph in Greek mythology, who was turned into a laurel tree |
laureola law-re-OH-luh |
Small laurel crown |
| tansy ragwort (B) |
Asteraceae family (ass-ter-AY-see-ee) |
Aster, daisy, or sunflower family |
Senecio sen-NEESH-shee-oh |
Derived from the Latin word senex meaning old man, refers to the hairy parts of flowers |
jacobaea jak-koh-BAY-ee-uh |
Named for St. James (Jacobus), one of the Twelve apostles |
| thistle, milk (A) |
Asteraceae family (ass-ter-AY-see-ee) |
Aster, daisy, or sunflower family |
Silybum SIGH-lee-bum |
The Greek name for some edible thistles |
marianum mar-ee-AH-num |
Of st. Mary |
| thistle, slenderflower (A) |
Asteraceae family (ass-ter-AY-see-ee) |
Aster, daisy, or sunflower family |
Carduus KARD-yoo-us |
From the Greek word kardos (thistle) |
tenuiflorus ten-yoo-ee-FLOR-uh |
Slender flowered |
|
toadflax, Dalmatian (B) |
Scrophulariaceae (skrof-yoo-larr-ee-AY-see-ee) |
Snapdragon family |
Linaria lin-AR-ee-uh |
Flax-like |
dalmatica dal-MAT-ih-kuh |
Of or from Dalmatia, Croatia on the Adriatic Sea |
| velvetleaf (A) |
Solanaceae family (so-lan-AY-see-ee) |
The nightshade family |
Abutilon a-BEW-tih-lon |
From the Arabic word for a mallow-like plant |
theophrasti thee-oh-FRAS-tee |
Named for Theophrastos, a 3rd century Greek philosopher and botanist |
| woad, dyers (A) | Brassicaceae family brass-ih-KAY-see-ee | Cabbage family |
Isatis EYE-sat-iss |
Ancient Greek name for this plant |
tinctoria tink-TOR-ee-uh |
Indicates a plant used in dyeing or that has a sap that can stain |
Pierce County Noxious Weed Control Board • 1420 East 112th St. Tacoma, WA 98445 • 253-798-7263