BOOK A Handbook of West African Weeds (IITA)

\ HANdbook of
West AFrican WeecIs
I. OUezie AkobuNdt
C. W. AqyAkwA
iNiEftNAiioNAl Institute of TnopicAl AqRictUuRE
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture
The Imeniatioiial Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) was founded

in 1967 as an intemational agricultural research iastitute with mandate
for research on and sustainable production systems
specific food crops
in the humid and suhhumid of Africa. It became die first
tropics
African link in die world-wide netwodc of agricoltiiral research centers
known as the Consultative Group on Intemadonal Agricultural
Research (CGIAR) formed in 1971.
The Intemational Insdtute of Tro|rical Agriculture is governed by an

intemational board of trustees and is staffed by approximately 100
scientists and piotessionals from about 35 countries and 1,500 support
staff. Funding for IITA comes from donor agencies which are
members of the CGIAR.
The Intemational Institute of Tropical Agriculture conducts research*

trainiog, and germplasm and informadon exchauge activities in
partnership with regional and national programs in maiqr parts of sub-
Saharan Africa. The research focuses on smallholder cropping systems
in humid and subfaumid tropics of Africa, and on the following food
crops: cassava, maize, plantain and banana, yam, cowpea and
soybean. It addresses crop improvement, plant hodth, and resource
and crop management issues- widun a fimning systems network. Hie

overall goal is to improve die nulridonal status and wdl-Mng of low-
income people in the humid and subhumid tropics of sub-Saharan
Africa.
Second Edition, Revised and Expanded
A Handbook of
West African Weeds
I. Okezie Akobundu
Federal University of Agriculture
Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria
C. W. Agyakwa
Accra, Ghana

Oyo Road, PMB 5320, Ibadan, Nigeria
Xh±s On
R7C3-ZN7-SDSC
€> 1998 International Institute of Tropical Agriculture
First Edition, 1987

ISBN; 978 131 014 6
Second Edition, 1998

ISBN: 978 131 129 0
Produced by
PMB 5320, Ibadan, Nigeria
Edited and typeset in Nigeria by

African Book Builders Ltd.
2 Awosika Avenue, Bodija
U.I. P.O. Box 20222
Ibadan, Nigeria
Printed at 1NT£C Printers, Ibadan

CONTENTS
Preface v
Preface to the first edirion \di
Part T
AQUATIC WEEDS 1
Weeds nf Inwlnnd rice
Part n(a)
DRYT.AND WEEDS 123
Dicotyledon weeds of arable and plantation crops
Part n(b)
DRVT AND WFFn<; 42^
Monocotyledon weeds of arable and plantation crops
Appendices
Types of inflorescences 546
Shapes of leaf blades, apices and bases 547
Glossary 548
Bibliography 553
4
ToourtwofaniiUesandwaUpeopUyvhoarestnvi^
undersiandandmamgetropkalYfeedsm
protect the tropical environment.
PREFACE
Time moves isBt and even among plants, no^^ Since
the publication of the first edition of this book in 1987, the
demand for it throughout West Africa has been so widespread

that we had to print a French edition. Both editions have been so
widely accepted and the demand for them has been so high that
we ran out of copies of the English edition. It is partly to meet
this growing demand and partly to incorporate new developments
in weed science and plant taxonomy that we have put together
this second edition. We have taken advantage of this need to
update the book, and more than 282 savanna weeds are
described. The second edition, therefore, provides a better

balance and a more in-depth coverage of forest and savanna plant
species distribution in West Africa than the fust edition.
We take this opportunity to thank Professor Joyce Lowe

(formerly of the University of Ibadan) for her useful comments
that have helped us to update not only the plant names, but also
the authorities cited. We also acknowledge with thanks the
cooperation of the officials of the Forestry Research Institute in
Ibadan, Nigeria who allowed us free access to tiie Forestry

Herbarium to cross-check field collections. We thank the staff of
African Book Builders for working patiently and tirelessly with
us during the production of this book. The authors appreciate the
support we have received from the management of IITA in

revismg this book and getting this edition published. I take this
opportunity also to thank Professor P. C. Njoku, Vice-
Copyrighted matBrial
Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture at Umudike,
tor the opportunity given to me to complete this project at this
university.
Federal Univbrshy of Agriculture I. Okezie Akobundu

Umudke AND C. W. AOYAKWA
S£FT£MB£R, 1996
Copyrighted material
PREFACE to the First Edition
In the beginning, there were no weeds. All plants grew in their

natural habitats and contributed to the natural vegetation of
specific regions. The concq>t of weeds in West Africa, as in
other parts of the world, came with man's disturbance of the
natural vegetation and with iiis desire to modify this vegetation
to meet his agricultural and recreational needs in conformity with

^
his aesthetic vahie. In the past, all undesu-able plants were
weeds. The West African farmer accepted them as a natural
consequîce of cultivation and made little effort to distinguish
one weed from another; hence the paucity of specific local names
for West African weeds, except for a few plants, that were either
too troublesome, for example, Iniperaia cylindrica, or had

medicmal vahies, for example, Digitaria horizontalis.
The increasing complexity of agriculture in the region in
response to the natural onward march of civilization has called

for a need to recognize weeds as crop pests that should be
studied and controlled. In spite of the fact that European
agricultural influence has existed in the region for over a
century, it is only within the last 22 years that documîted
literature, specifically on weeds in West Africa, ha.s been
available in any form. In response to a growing need for a book
that will assist fannersand agriculturists to identify weeds
commonly encountered hi the agricultore of tiie region, four texts
have been published since 1978 (IRAT, 1978; Ivens et ai., 1978;.
Merlier and Montegut, 19S2 and Terry, 1983). Each of these

texts has either addressed a specific problem (e.g. , weeds of rice
fields) or been limited to weeds of a given geographical area in
vu
the region. Thus the need has remained for a non-taxonomic text
which will cover a cross-section of weeds found in the region.

The present vohime has been pteprnd to meet this need.
In the course of preparing this text, we carried out surveys
in most of the countries from Senegal to Nigeria and have

phologrq>hed weeds in field crops in most of the countries
visited. It is out of this collection of over 380 species that were
photographed that we have selected at least 256 species of
common weeds found in lowland rke» and in arable and
plantation crops In the region. We have from our field
experience also included fallow species that we know as

problems in no-till^ge crop production systems.
This book is divided Into two parts consisting of the major
aquatic weeds known to be problems in various lowland rice
ecologies and dryland weeds of field and plantation crops in
West Africa. Pteridiwn atpxQxnum^ mie of the nuijor weeds of
field crops in West Africa, has been arbitrarily included among
the monocots tor economy of space to avoid creating another
section for Pteridophytes. The authors have made a detibeiale

attempt to minimize the use of botanical terms which are often
confusing to the layman. We, however, admit that in describing
leaf forms the economy of words strongly fiivors stiop^taid
botanical terms. To this end we have included line drawings of

the conunon leaf shapes and types of inflorescence mentioned in
the text (see appendix figures 1 and 2). A glossary <tf otiier
botanical terms and a general index are also Inchided at the end
of the book. An updated arrangement of families of flowering
plants rqp<vted by Hutchinson (1973) has been used in our book.
This book has been prepared to meet the needs of
agriculturists, extension workers and others who are faced with
a practical need to learn and identify the common weeds of West
«
YUl
Africa. It is hoped thai a French, edition of this teict will he
printed shortly to bring this book within easy reach of farmers
throughout the region. No one weed is known by tho same local
name used hy farmers. It is, therefore, not necessary at this time
to attempt giving local names to weeds in a text of this nature.
The need for this will increase as people become more familiar
with specific weeds.'

In the course of our travels in West Africa in connection
with this projea, we received the assistance of many professional
colleagues hi the various countries we visited. Altiiough space
will not permit us to mention all by name, we cannot help but
acknowledge the assistance and logistic support we got from Mr.
A. Diop in Senegal, the late Dr. Moohmi and Dr. Nyoka m
Mali, and Mr. B.M.S. Turay in Sierra Leone who also allowed
us free use of the National Herbarium at the Njala University
College. We also acknowledge the assistance we received from
the Forest Research Herbarium, Ibadan, officials of the various
ministries of Agriculture in the Republics of Benin, Ghana, Ivory
Coast and Togo.

We acknowledge with thanks the assistance of Mrs. M.T.
Laditi who typed the script and that of UTA's editorial staff.
My co-author, Mr. Winston Agyakwa, a Research Associate in

the Weed Science Section, worked tirelessly with me to compile
this tent. It is, however, with the senior author that all the blame
for any shortcommgs of this book must rest, since he made all
the decisions on what weeds should be mchided or excluded, aipd
on the format and organization of the book.
February 1987 I. okbzib Akdbundd amd

C.W. AGnTAEWA
PARTI
AQUATIC W££DS
Weeds of Lowland Rice
Cc '
laterial
II
'a
i
Family: AMARANTHACEAE
Botanical name: AUenumthera sessiUs (Linn.) DC.
Common name: sessile joy weed
Description: A semi-prostrate annual herb with erect shoots up

to50 cm high, that reproduces from seeds. The stem is round,
more or less woody, slightly hairy and roots at'the nodes. It has
opposite leaves that are broadly lanceolate, about 2-8 cm long
and 1-2 cm wide, and smooth and minutely toothed at the
margins. The inflorescence consists of small sessile flowers
clustered in axillary spikes.The flowers are white and have
segments that are acute, not spinous, and are about 2-2.5 mm
long. The fhiits are indefaiscent, 1-seeded utricles.
Habitat: A weed of shady, damp soils in cultivated and waste

areas. A pan-tropical weed found everywhere including
hydromorphic rice fields in West Africa.
Oopy iiytilOG
laterial
FamUy: ARAC£A£
Botanical name: Pistia stratiotes Linn.
Common name: water lettuce
Description: A free-floating aquatic herb witli diiclc, succulent

leaves, profuse underwater stolons and long, white, unbranched
fibrous roots that may sometimes attach to the bottom of shallow
waters. It reproduces mainly vegetatively by buds and stolons.
It rarely produces seeds. Hie leaves are spirally arranged (in
rosettes) around a short central axis. Th^ are obloQg or
spathulate in shape, 6-12 cm long and 5 cm wide, spongy,
strongly inflated and softly hairy on both surfaces, the lower
surface has conspicuous veins (nerves) radiating from the base
of the leaves. The flowers are inconspicuous and are in spathes
in the leaf axils at the centre of the rosette. The female and male
flowefs are sq>arate, but are m the same inflorescîce.
Habitats A common aquatic weed that occurs m still waters,
ponds and pools or in slow flowing rivers and streams
throughout West Africa.
Famfly: ASTERACEAE
Botanical name: Eclipta alba (L.) Hassk (= £. prostrata
ILinn.] L.)
Description: An erea, bnmched annual herb up to 60 cm high,

that reproduces from seeds. The stem is slightly fleshy but may
be more or less woody at the base. It is often reddish in colour
and roots at the nodes. The presence of short stiff hairs makes
the stem feel rough to the touch. The leaves are opposite, ovate
to lanceolate, 2-10 cm long and 1-3 cm wide, pointed at the
apex, rather finely and distantly toothed, and rough on the
surfaces.The upper leaves have no stalks, while the lower ones
have short stalks. The inflorescence is made up of solitary
flowers or groups of 2-3 flowers at the stem tips or in leaf axils.
The flowers are borne on pedicels that are 2-7 cm long. They are
white and hairy with inconspicuous ray florets and numerous
disc florets, each of which is about 1 cm in diameter. The fruits
are pale brown or black achenes, 3 mm long, warty and wedge-
shaped.
Habitat: A weed of damp and poorly drained soils, in paddy

rice fields, canals and irrigated fields.
8
FunUy: ATHYRIACEA£
Botanical name: Diplazium sammatii (Kuhn) C. Chr.
Descriptioii: An erect, rbizomatous aquatic fern up to about 1m

high. grows under shade on stream banks in the low altitude
It
tropics. The stem is a rhizome. The leaves consist of erect

pinnate fronds which are not fertile and are up to about 40 cm
long. The leaflets are alternate, up to about 10 paired, they are
lanceolate, 14 cm long and 2 .5 cm across, glabrous, widely and
finely toothed and pointed at the ^)ex. They are sessile and have
square to unequal-Aided bases; and the lower surfaces have
numerous, more or less closely interconnected free veins.
Habitat: An understorey plant of moist or wet areas sometimes

growing in running streams in the forest region. It is used as a
vegetable in south-eastern Nigeria, Ghana, and in Southeast
Asia.
10
Family: AZOLLACEAE
Botanical name: Azolla pinnata R.Br. var. afriama (Desv.)
Bak. (= Azolla cfiicana Desv.)
Common name: water velvet, African mosquito fern
Description: A small, free-floatiog aquatic fern often growing in

extensive colonies on ponds, pools and still waters. It reproduces
from fertile spores. The plant is greenhh at the early stages of
its life cycle, but turns pink or dull reddish-brown with age. The
stem is a small, fragile rhizome that floats and produces
numerous small rootlets in water. The leaves are tender,
dissected and overlap in two rows with an upper and a lower
lobe that are banded together in a scale-like manner. The upper
lobe is the photosynthetic leaf. It is green in colour and coveted
with minute hairs that make tiie leaf surfiice difficult to wet. The
lower lobe is thin, submerged and bears the female and male
spores.
Habitat; A comuKMi weed of ponds, dams, lakes and rice

paddies. It is an indigenous species and widespread in West
Africa.
Copyiiglited
13
Family: CONVOLVULACEAE
Botanical name: Ipomoea aquatica Porsk.
Common name: swamp morning-glory, water spinach.
Description: A hairless, aquatic perennial with milky latex and

hollow, creeping stem that roots at the nodes, trails on nmd or
floats on water. It reproduces mainly from vegetative stems and
stolons and rarely from seeds. The stem is slender, hollow and
smooth, tree branching and long trailing. The leaves are
alternate, variable in shape, oblong, tree or oblong-lanceolate or
sometimes lobed. They are generally about 14 cm long and 8 cm
wide, acute at the apex, entke at the margms and heart-shaped
at the base with petioles about 3-15 cm long. The hiflorescenoe
ismade up of solitary flowers in leaf axils. The flowers are
showy, pinkish or purple, trumpet-shaped and have pedicels 5-15
cm long. The fruits are cm long ovoid capsules that are 4-
1
seeded. The seeds are brown, about 7 mm long and 4 mm wide

and are densely hairy.
Habitat: A common aquatic weed of poorly dramed soils, often

found in rice paddies throughout West Africa.
14
FamUy: CYPERACEAE
Botanical name: Cyperus difformis Linn.
Description: An erect densely tufted annual sedge about 30-

100 cm high that reproduces trom seeds. The stem
is markedly
triangular,smooth and about 1-4 mm thick. It has linear basal

leaves about 5 mm wide that taper to an acute apex. The leaf
sheath is tubular and united at the base. The infloreseeiiGe is a
compound umbel that has several primary rays up to 4 cm long,
and short secondary rays about 1 cm The inflorescence is
long.
subtended by 3 stiff leafy bracts about 3 cm long. The spikes are
dense, greenish and are neatly crowded in globose heads. Each
spikelet is 3-4 mm long and 1-1.5 mm wide with 4 glumes along
îch side. Each glume is 3-angled» and blackish when ripe.
Habitat: A common weed of wet soils and rice paddies.
16
laterial
Family: CYPERACEAE
Botanical Name: Cyperus haspan Linn.
Description: A tutted, sometimes rhizomatous perennial sedge

iq) to 70 cm high that leproduces from seeds. The stem is
slender, weak and sharply triangular. The leaves are few, linear,
4 mm wide and about 50 cm long. They are often as long as the
stem and have purplish basal leaf sheaths. The inflorescence is
a compound umbel that is about 10-15 cm long. When mature,

the inflorescence normally has primary rays up to 8 cm long,
seccmdary rays about 2 cm
long and tertiary rays that are
slender, 5-10 mm long and with 2 or 3 digitate spikelets. Each
spikelet may have up to 10 ghimes that are closely crowded
along each side, at right angles to the main intlorescence axis.
Habitat: A weed of wet places and poorly drained soils. It is a

common weed of rice paddies and hydromorphic soils throughout
West Africa.
18
FamUy: CYPERACEAE
Botanical name: Cyperus iria linn.
Description: A tufted annual sedge up to 75 cm high that

reproduces from seeds. The stem is sharply triangular, slender
and smooth. The leaves are ai>out 5 mm wide and are shorter
than the flowering stem. They are reddish at the base where they
sheath the tufted basal part. The inflorescence is a compound
umbel with primary rays about 10 cm long and secondary rays
up to 2 cm long; and subtended by conspicuous leafy bracts. The
spikelets are golden, short, compressed; about 2 mm wide and
have obovate and obtuse glumes, each 1-2 mm long.
Habitat: A widespread sedge occurring as a weed at the edges

of open waters in many parts of West Africa from Senegal to
Nigeria. A serious weed of paddy rice.
20
laterial
Family: CYPERACEAE
Botanical name: FimbristyUs ferruginea (Linn.) Vahl
Description: An erect, tutted perennial sedge about 75 cm high

that reproduces from seeds. The stem is small, slender and about
1-1.5 mm thick, flattened and tufted at the base. The leaTes are
slightly hairy, long and linear, S^30 cm long and up to 1.5 mm
wide. The inflorescence is more or less an umbel, branched and
has relatively few spikelets. The glumes are broad, with rusty-
brown hairs below and greyish hairs above.
Habitat: A common weed of irrigated rice, brackish swamps and

damp grasslands. It is widespread in West Africa.
22
(
I
Family: CYP£RACHA£
Botanical name: Fimbristylis littoralis Gaudet (= F. miliacea
Vahl)
Docription: An erect, tufted annual sedge 20-60 cm high that

vefirodiices from seeds. It has weak, slender stms that are
flattened at tfie base and are strongly angled at the top. The basal
leaves are long and may be up to 32 cm long and 1-2 mm
wide,
usually with broad overlapping leaf sheaths. The terminal leaves
are reduced. The inflorescence is a multi-umbel which is lax and
much diffused, 6-10 cm long and 2.5-8 cm wide. The spikelets
are pale brown or straw-coloured. Th^ are rounded, numerous
and in solitary heads and are about 2.5 mm in diameter. The
glumes are short and numerous and about 1-2 mm long.
Habitat: A weed of wet, swampy areas, common in rice fields.
24
Copyrighted niaterial
Family: CYPERACEAE
Botanical name: Fuirena ciUaris (Linn.) Roxb.
Description: An erect, tufted, hairy annual sedge up to 60 cm

higli, tliat reproduces from seeds. The stem is slend^, rounded
and hairy. The leaves are alternate, rather few and are arranged
at intervals on the stems. They are about 4-1 1 cm long and 3-7.5
mm across. The leaf hlades and the basal leaf sheaths have white
hair. The inflorescence is about 2.5-13 cm long and about 2.5
cm wide. It is made up of 1-3 stalked clusters of spikelets each
subtended by a leaf-liice bract. The spilcelets are ovoid, 5-8 mm

long and about 4 mm wide, greenish in colour but turn brownish
at maturity. The glumes have slender tips that make the spikelets
appear rather spinous.
llahitat: A weed of swamps and paddy rice. It is widespread in

West Atrica.
26
27
FamUy: CYPERACEAE
Botanical name: Fidrena umbellata RoOb.
Hill
Description: An erect, robust, perennial sedge 60-140 cm high,

someiimes with adventitious roots at the lower nodes that
reproduces from seeds and also from vegetative shoots arising
from tlie underground rhizome. Tlie stem is conspicuously 5-
angled, spongy, sometimes tuberoas and swollen at die lowest
intemode. It luis stiff, short and wide leaves, id)out 26 cm long
and up to 2-6 cm wide. The leaves are borne at varying intervals
alternately on the stem, and have short white hairs. The
Inflorescence made up of 2-5 branches, up to 30 cm long and
is
4.5 cm wide with each branch subtended by a leafy bract. The

spikelets are arranged m digi^ chisters and each spikelet is 4-
12 mm long and 3 mm wide. It is greenish, but may turn
brownish with time.
Habitat: A weed of marshes which also grows along streams

river banks. It can also grow on dried-out muddy patches in
krigated rice fields.
28
laterial
Family: CYPERACEAE
Botanical name: Kyllinga bulbosa Beauv.
Description: A small, perennial sedge up to 40 cm high that has

a slender threadlike creeping stem with a swollen bulbous base,
and which reproduces from both seeds and rhizomes. The stem
is a creeper. The leaves are numerous at the base and are about
2-20 cm long and 1-5 mm wide. The inflorescence is a single,
ovoid, short spike about 4-14 mm long and 5-12 mm across. It
may sometimes be elongated and have additional smaller heads

at the base. It is subtended by 3-5 unequal leafy bracts. The
heads are generally whitish in colour, but when the plant is in
bloom, the yellow colour of the anthers from the spikelets may
give the heads a yellowish appearance. Each spikelet has 4
glumes, a feature that makes the specie distinct from the other
species ot Kyllinga.
Habitat: A common weed of rice paddies, daiiq> and moist

places; widespread in West Africa.
30
31
Family: CYPERACEAE
Botanical name: Kyllinga erecta Schumach. var. erecta
(= Cyperus erectus [Schumach.] Mattf. & Kuk)
Description: An erect, glabrous sedge about 12-45 cm high with

thick, segmented rhizomes that produce numerous inter-twisted
roots. The stem underground rhizome that gives
consists of an
rise to It reproduces from seeds
above ground stems and shoots.
and vegetatively from rhizomes. The above ground stem js
slender, leafy and smooth. The leaves are numerous, 6-24 cm
long and 0.5-2.5 mm wide. The inflorescence consists of
solitary, ovoid heads 4-8 mm long and 8-9 mm
wide each
subtended by 2-3 leafy bracts, the longest of which may be up
to 11 cm long. The spikelets have glumes (about 3.5 long) mm
that are smooth.
Habitat: A weed of lowland rice and damp sandy places.
32
aterial
Family: CYPERACEAE
Botanical name: Kyllinga punuia Michx
Description: A tufted perennial sedge up to 60 cm high, that

reproduces from seeds. It has a slender stem that is wedge-
shaped in cross section, and has reddish leaf-sheaths at the base.
The leaves are rather few and short, up to 15 cm long and 4 mm

wide. The infloresoenoe is made up of 3, rarely 4, greenish-
white spikes m conical heads, clustered on the top of each
flowering stem, the central head always the longest and the
largest, about 7-10 mm long and 4-5 mm wide, and with the two
smallest heads at the base making the total width of the whole
intlorescence about 12 mm. The spikelets have white glumes that
have green ciliate midribs which are about 2 mm long.
Habitat: A common weed of inland valley rice growing areas in
West Africa, especially in the savanna zone.
34
Copyiiglited
Family: CYPERACEAE
Botanical name: KyllUiga squamulata Thomi. ex Vahl
Description: A weak, tufted, annual sedge 10-35 cm high that

reproduces from seeds. The stem is erect and triangular in cross-
section, ratherweak and with fibrous roots. The leaves arise
from the base of the shoots. They are linear, 7-20 cm long and
1-2.5 mm wide, about the same length as the flowering shoot or
sometimes shorter, glabrous and shiny and are scented when
crushed. The inflorescence is made up of solitary spikes at the
terminal of the stems, and subtended by linear leafy bracts. They
are greenish to pale brown and conical ly shaped. The glumes
have toothed keels and the fruits are flattened achenes that are
brown, round and about 1.5 mm
in diameter.
Habitat: A weed of arable crops, hydromorphic soil and also

found in lawns. It is widespread in West Africa.
36
Copyiiglited
Family: CYPERACEAE
Botanical name: Mariscus longibracteatus Chenn. Cyperus
longibracteatus Cherm.)
Descriptloo: A large, tofled sedge that can grow to about 1 m

high and reproduces from seeds. The stem is erect, 3-angled and
smooth. The leaves are at the base of the stem. They are rather
long and some may reach up to 60 cm in length and 8 mm wide.
The inflorescence is more like a compound umbel which may
reach up to 20 cm wide when fully formed. It is subtended by
long, prominnit, leafy bracts about 30 cm long. The spikes are
about 8 cm long and the pikelets are crowded at the ends of the
secondary rays and each is about 2-5 cm long and 2 mm across.
The glumes are arranged spirally and are parallel with the
spike let axis (rhachilla). Each glume is about 3 mm long and has
a prominent green midrib.
Habitat: A weed of lowland rice and open wet grounds in the

be easily confused with Mariscus keniensis
forest zone. It can
which has more compact, very dark spikelets and Cyperus
distans which usually has slender and dull reddish-brown
glumes.
38
39
Family: CYPERACEAE
Botanical name: Pycreus lanceolatus (Poir.) C.B. CI.
Description: A densely tufted perennial sedge about 20-60 cm

high that reproduces from seeds and by slender rhizomes. The
stem is linear, 3-aiigled in cross-section, more or less sprawling,
and in dense tufts. The leora are Uacsx and rather few at the
base, aboiit 2^ mm wide and mostly shorter than the stems. The
leaf sheath is dark brown. The inflorescence is a dense cluster
of spikes at the terminal of each flowering system, and is
subtended by 2-3 leafy bracts that are up to 15 cm long. The

spikelets are conspicuously flattened, brownish-green, becoming
yellowish on maturity. The glumes have golden wavy margins,
and are blmit at the tip.
Habitat: A common weed of paddy rice, marshes, river banks

and hydromorphic soils. It is particularly abundant in Nigeria.
Other related species: Pycreus flavescens (Linn.) Reichnb. is a

smaller plant than P. Umceolatus^ but can also be distinguished
from the latter by tlie shorter golden brown spikes that have
black adienes. ft is also a common weed of rice paddies.
40
41
Family: CYPERACEAE
Botanical name: Rhynchospora corymbosa (Linn.) Britt.
Description: A robust, tufted sedge 1-2 m high that reproduces

from seeds. It has an erect, stout stem which is triangular in
cross-section, diiclc at the base and develq>s numerous fibrous

roots. The leaves are large, up to 90 cm long and 2 cm across,
taper gradually to the tip and have broad, overlapping basal leaf-
sheaths that clasp the stem below. Normally each leaf is folded
longitudinally into half and the margins as well as the central
edge are rough and sharp. The inlloraoeiioe is a multi-branched
panicle, 25-60 cm long, subtended by which
leaf-like bracts
become linear and much reduced towards the upper part of the
plant. The terminal clusters are larger than the lateral ones and
the spikelets are brown.
Habitat: A common weed of swamps often found growing in

rice paddies, irrigation canals and at the edges of streams in the
forest zcmess.
42
43
FamUy: CYP£RAC£A£
Botanical name: Schoenoplectus senegalensis (Hochst. ex
Steud.) Palla. {=Scirpus jacobi C.E.C. Fisher)
DescripUan: An erect, small tufted sedge up to 40 cm high that

has poorly developed leaves and rq)roduces from seed. The stem
is slender, spongy, smooth and weak. The leaves are not well
developed but are reduced to bladeless leaf-sheaths, each of

which is up to 8 cm long and subtends each flowering stem. The
inflorescence is made up of a single cluster of pale brown,
closely knitted spikelets about 10 mmloQg and 14 mm
across.
The spikelets are rounded or ovate and are not always distinct
Habitat: A weed of wet regions often found growing in and at
the edges of lakes and other bodies of water. It is a weed of

paddy rice fields and inland valley swamps, particularly in the
savanna region.
44
Copyrighted malBrial
FamUy: CYPERACEAE
Botanical name: Scleria naumanniana Boeck.
Descripdon: A tall, peiemiial sedge 60-120 cm high that has

rhizomes and can reproduce from seeds as well as from
riuzomes. The stem is more or less scrambling, 3-angled and
very slightly hairy. The leaves are borne on the stems at
alternate intervals, they are about 20-30 cm long and 5-8 cm

wide» pointed at the tips and have dull reddish sheaths that have
some triangular projections at the top beneath the leaf blades.
The infloraoenoe is composed of loose, conically-shaped
panicles about 4-7 cm long, usually with 2-4 spikes m the axil of
a leaf, each is subtended by a linear leaf-like bract with dark
reddish-brown stalks. Both the female and male flowers are on
the same plant. The male spikelets have slender, long stalks,
while the female ones are thicker and shorter and have shiny
smooth fruits (achenes) about 3 mm long.
Habitat: A weed of wet areas including forest clearings.
46
47
Family: CYPERACEAE
Botanical name: Sderia verrucosa Willd.
Description: An erect, stout perennial sedge up to about 2 m

high that has thick rhizomes and can reproduce trom both the
seeds and the rhizomes. It has large leaves, about 30-40 cm long
and 1 .2-3 cm wide, that are ridged longitudinally, pointed at the
tips and rough on the veins as well as the margins. The
inflorescence is a terminal panicle about 20-30 cm long with 2-4
spikes in each panicle and subtended by a narrow leat-iike bract,
and with both the temale and male spikelets in the same
inflorescence. The male spikelets are flat and each is about 5-6
mm long and 2 mm
wide. The achenes are rather subglobose, 3
mm across, warty and tubercled and have persistent styles at the
top.
Habitat: A weed of wet areas including inland valley swamps.

It is widespread in West Atirica.
48
laterial
Family: HYDROPHYLIACEAE
Botanical name: Hydrolea palustris (Aubl.) Rausch.
Hydrolea glabra Sebum. & Thonn.)
Descriptkm: A hairless* met ix sometimes ^rawlii^ ammal
herb. The stem is hollow, about 30 cm high. It reproduces from
seeds or by stolons. The leaves are alternate, lanceolate, about
4-8 cm long and 1-1.5 cm wide. The leaf margins are entire.
The blade is sharply and abruptly pointed at the apex, slimy and
smooth on both surfaces. The inflorescence is an axillary raceme
ofien clustered along the stem. The flowers are blue and tiiey
have calyx tubes about 6 mm long. The fhilts ate smooth,
broadly ovoid capsules.
Habitat: A common weed of wetlands often found in rice

paddies.
50
51
Family: LEGUMINOSAE: MIMOSOIDEAE
Botanical name: Neptimia oleracea Lour.
Desciiiition: A submerged aquatic herb that trails in water. The

stem (stolon) roots at the nodes. It reproduces from seeds and
also vegetatively from the stolons. The leaves are sensitive to
touch and are hip innate with 2-3 pairs of pinnae, each having
about 8 pairs of leaflets which are partly submerged and partly
floating. The submerged leaves are usually finely dissected,
while the floating ones are oblanoeolate, rounded at the apices.
The leaves are smooth on both surfaces and about 1.5 cm long.
The inflorescence consists of bisexual and >iterile flowers in
globose heads on a long flower-stalk. The bisexual flowers are
at the top, while the sterile flowers are below. The flowers are
yellow, have 10 stamens, and both the sepals and petals are
haurless. The fruit is a flat pod about 2.3 cm long, beaked and
smooth.
Habitat: The weed is found in still waters, or in streams and

rivers of minimal flow. It is a weed of deep water rice and
canals.
52
53
laterial
FamUy: LEGUMINOSAB: PAPIUONOIDEAE
Botanical name: Aeschynomene indica Limi.
Description: An erect, aquatic undershnib up to about 1.5 m

high that reproduces from seeds. The stem is stader, smooth
and pithy. The leaves are alternate and bipinnale. The leaflets
are up to 20 pairs, each leaflet is about 1 cm long, smooth and
1 -nerved. The inflorescence is an axillary raceme that usually
has few flowers. The flowers have yellow petals (each about 5-7
mm in length) with faint brown streaks. The fruit is a flat pod,
about 4 cm long, smooth, indented on one side and divided into
about 5-9 segments, with eadi segment bearing one seed.
Habitat: A common weed of swamps and muddy places; also

often found along stream banks. It is widespread in West Africa.
54
Family: MELASTOMATACEAE
Botanical name: Heteratis rottauÛa (Sm.) Jac.-F61.
{^Dissatis ratundifoUa [Sm.] Triana)
Description: A variable, perennial herb with prostrate or

ascending stems up to about 40 cm high, rooting at the nodes
that reproduces from seeds and from stolons. The stem is
rectangular in cross-section, rather softly wooded, segmented

into nodes and is softly hairy. The leases are opposite, variable
in shape and size, ovate or ovate-lanceolate, about 1.5-6 cm long
and 1-2.5 cm wide, hairy on both surfaces and densely so on the
petioles. The flowers are solitary and at the terminals of the
stems. They have purple or pinkish petals, large yellow and
purple stamens and calyx tubes covered with red bristly haurs
Habitat: A common weed of paddy rice bunds, damp places,

roadsides and waste areas, it is widespread in West Africa.
56
57
FamUy: MELASTOMATACEAE
Botanical name: Mdastomastnm capUatum (Vahl) A. & R.
Fern. (^Dissotis erecta [Guill. & Perr.] Dandy)
Description: An erect, branched shrub of up to about 1 m high,
that reproduces from The stem is angled, woody and has
seeds.
some short oppressed hair. The leaves are opposite, ovate, about
5-13 cm long and 3-6.5 cm wide, 5-nerved and with short
petioles. They have sharply pointed apices, rounded to a slightly
wedge-shaped base and have some short appressed hair on both
surfaces. The inflorescence is made up of a solitary flower or
several flowers at the terminals of the stems, usually subtended
by a common leafy involucre. The flowers have pinkish or
mauve petals with yellow stamens, and the firuHs are 5-valved
capsules about 1 cm long which have several minute, moon-
shaped, pale brown seeds.
Habitat: A weed of wet areas, often found along stream banks

in the forest zones.
58
59
Family: NYMPHAEACEAE
Botanical name: Nymphaea lotus Linn.
Common rnant: waterlily
Description: An aquatic perennial herb with submerged rhizomes

and large leaves that tloat on water. It reproduces from seeds
and vegetativeiy trom rhizomes. The stem is rhizomatous,
always submerged in water and roots freely. The leaf is large,
circular-shaped, up to 30 cm in diameter with a slender petiole
that is up to 30 cm long and arises from the submerged rhizome.
The petiole is centrally attached to the undersurface of the leaf.
The leaves are sharply toothed at the margins, heartshaped at the
base, strongly nerved and hairy on the undersurface. The
flowers are solitary, showy, large (about 20 cm in diameter),
have many white petals and equally as many yellow stamens.
These flowers are borne on long slender flower stalks. The iralt
is an ovoid, many-seeded berry that ripens under water.
Habitat: The weed is commonly found on still waters, ponds,

dams, lakes and edges of streams.
Other related species: Nymphaea maculata Schum. and Thonn.
Description: A submerged aquatic perennial herb which

resembles N. lotus, but can be distinguisiied by the following
features:
(a) The leaves are smaller and have entire margins. They are not
prommently nerved and are slightly spotted on the lower surface.
(b) The flowers are small, about 3-8 cm in diameter, have 5-10
petals that may be white, pale bluish-white but tinged at tips. It
shares the same habitat as N. lotus.
60
Family: ONAGRACEAE
Botanical nanie: Ludwigia abyss inica A. Rich. {=Jussiaea
abyssinica [A. Rich.] Daody & Brenan)
Common name: water primrose
Description: An erect, annual or perennial shrub about 1-2 m

high that reproduces from seeds. The stem is more or less
angled, many-btanched and smooth. The leaves are alternate,
lanceolate, about 10-12 cm long and up to 4 cm wide. They have
short, triangular stipules in the axils. The leaf margms are entire
and the petioles are about 3 cm long. The leaf blades are smooth
on both surfaces and have many laterally ascending nerves on the
lower surface. The inflorescence is made up of solitary flowers
thathave 4-5 persistent sepals and corresponding 4-5 yellow
petals, 1.5-3.5 mm loqg all on top of the elongated ovary that
eventually becomes die many seeded, rather linear capsule, 1-2
cm long. The seeds are small, brownish and about 0.5 mm long.
Habitat: A common weed of lowland rice. The plant varies in
colour from green to red.
62
Family: ONAGRACEAE
Botanical name: Ludwigia decwrrens Walt. {-Jussiaea
decurrens [Walt.] DC.)
ComnMHi name: water primrose
Description: Anerect, branched annual up to about 1 m high
that reproduces from seeds. It has weak, smooth stems that are
more or less hollow and are slightly winged on the sides. The
leaves are alternate, lanceolate, with or without short stalks and
about 3-10 cm long and up to 2.5 cm wide. The blades taper to
the apex into long pointed tips, have entire margins, several
laterally ascending nerves, and are smooth on both surfaces. The
flowers are solitary in the axils of the leaves and all the flower
segments are on top of the ovary. There are four bright yellow
petals, about 8-12 mm
long which easily fall off. The four
sepals, each 7-10 mm, Umg remain persistent on die fruit. The
fhdt is a many-seeded capsule about 1.5 cm long, narrowly-
ridged longitudinally on four sides. The small seeds occur freely
in two or three rows within the capsule.
Habitat: A common weed of lowland rice, also found in moist

soils throughout West Africa.
64
FamUy: ONAGRACEAE
Botanical name: Ludwigia hyssopifolia (G. Don) Exell
{-Jussiaea linifolia Vahl)
Common name: water primrose
Description: An erect, glabrous herb of up to 60 cm high, that

reproduces from seeds. The stem is multi-branched, more or less
hollow and is slightly winged. The leaves are alternate, rather
variable in size, about 2-10 cm long and up to 1.5 cm wide.
They are usually stalkless or are sometimes very shortly stalked,
enture at the margins and pointed at the tips. The flowers are
yellow and in the leaf axils. They are solitary and each has four
sepals and eight stamens. The fhiit is a many-seeded, linear
capsule that is enlarged at the apical portion where the seeds are
in two rows, and linear at the lower portion where the seeds are
in a single row. The seeds are enclosed in an endocarp.
Habitat: A common weed of lowland rice and flood plains of

West Africa.
66
^1 ate rial
FamUy: ONAGRACEAE
Botanical name: Ludwigia octovaLvis (Jacq.) P. R4ven
(^^JussLaea linearis Willd.)
Common name: primrofie-willow, longfruhed primrose
Description: An erect herb up to about 1.5 ni high that

reproduces from seeds. The stem woody, especially at the
is
base, multi-branched, sometimes partly reddish and smooth to

sparsely hairy. The leases are alternate, linear or narrowly
lanceolate, about 8 cm long and 1 .2 mm across; those subtending
the flowers and fruits are narrow, small and hairy on the young
shoDis. The inflorescence consists of solitary flowers in the leaf
axils. Each flower has four yellow petals, 1-2 cm long and four
persistent sepals. The fruit is a cylindrical capsule (about 3.5 cm
long) that is many-seeded and about 0.5 mm in diameter.
Habitat: A weed of danq), flooded areas that is found in paddy
fields. It is closely associated with L. erecta (L.) Hara, L,
abyss inica A. Rich and L. decurrens Walt.
68
Copyrighted matsrial
FamUy: POACEAE
Botanical name: Acroceras zizanioides Dandy
Description: A widely climbing perennial grass about 90 cm

high that roots at the nodes, has aerial shoots, and reprc^duces
itself trom seeds or vegetativeiy from stem shoots. The stem
(cuhn) has upright shoots, is âbrous and much more robust
than that of A amplectens. It has lanceolate leaves about 7-13

cm long and 0.8-2 cm wide, which are rounded at the base,
clasp the culms and have sharp and pointed tips. The ligule is
inconspicuous and the sheath is glabrous except tor the margin

which may be slightly iiairy. The inflorescence is stiff, lias 4-7
branches and is larger than that of A. amplectens. The spikelets
are like those of A. amplectens.
Habitat: A widespread weed of lowland rice and wetlands found

in both the forest and the savanna zones.
Other related species: Acroceras amplectens Stapf. A lax

scrambling annual grass, smaller than A, zizanioides and a
problon of deep water, rice.
70
71
laterial
Family: POACEAE
Botanical name: Echinochloa crus-pavonis Schult.
Description: An erea, annual marsli grass 1-3 m high that

reproduces itself from seeds. It has a stoat, ôngy stem that is
rounded and has thick roots. The leases are long and linear,
about 40 cm long and 2 mm across, and are usually widest in the
middle from where they taper to a pointed tip and a narrow base.
They have no ligules and the sheaths are glabrous. The
inflorescence consists of long conical ly shaped racemes 6-20 cm
long, some of which may be brandied. The lower branches are
often the longest. The spikelets are aboiit 2.5-3 mm long,
pomted, purplish above, hairy, and have distinct jmms about 2.5
mm long.
-
•
Habitat; A weed of lowland rice.
72
73
Family: POACEAE
Botanical name: Echinochloa obtusiflora Stapf
Description: An annual grass about 1 m high that rq)roduces

from seeds. The stem is erect or slightly scrambling^ stout,
tufted and rooting at the lower nodes. The leaves have blades
about 20-40 cm long and up to 9 mm across; they are widest in
the middle and taper to the tipfrom the base. The inflorescence
is made up of more or less erect racemes 10-30 cm long. The
lowest racemes are the longest and progressively reduce in length

upwards along the inflorescence stalk. Occasionally the lower
' tranches may be shorter than those above them. The spikelets
are hairless, about 3 mm long and blunt at the tq)8. They are
sometimes clustered and often in four rows.
Habitat: A common weed of lowland rice and marshy areas.
Family: POACEAE
Botanical name: Echinochloa pyramidalis Hitchc. &. Chase
Description: A robust, perennial grass up to 4 m high with thick

rhizomes and strong well developed roots. It reproduces from
seeds as well as from rhizomes. The stems are thiclc, spongy and
floating, erect or sometimes in a tangled mass. They are
sometimes waxy and bluish (glaucous). The leaf blades are about
60 cm long and 2 cm wide, tapering gradually to a tine tip, with
sharp cutting margins. The ligules are conspicuous and occur as
a frmge of stiff white hairs, and the leaf sheaths are smooth and
nerved. The infloracence is closely and multi-branched, about
30 cm long. The spikelets are densely crowded, have sharp
points and are about 3 mm long. They are plump and pale green
in colour.
Habitat: A weed of lowland rice, marshes, shallow waters,

stream banks and river flood plains. It is widespread in West
Africa.
76
Family: POACEAE
Botanical name: Echuiochloa stagnina Beauv.
Description: A robust* perenniai grass tliat has erect or climbing

stems up to 2 m high. It also has rhizomes. It roots at die lower
prostrate nodes and reproduces from seeds and also from stolons.
The leaves have a long, linear blade about 15-45 cm long and
0.5-2 cm across, sometimes wide and tapering gradually to a fine
tq). It is smooth on both surfaces, but rather rough at the
margms. Ithas a whitish midrib. The sheath is gbbrous and the
ligule is reduced to a fringe of fine hair. The Infloresoenoe
varies from a few to many spikes up to 6 cm long. The spikelets
are plump and have conspicuous fine awns that may vary in
length from a tew millimeters to about 2 cm. Each spikelet is .
about 5 mm long.
Habitat: A common weed of deep water rice and dams.
78
79
Family: POACEAE
Botanical name: Efytrophoms spicatus A. Camus
Description: An erect, tutted annual grass 15-60 cm high that

reproduces from seeds. The leaf blades are long, linear, about
30 cm long and 5 mm wide, tapering to a pointed tip. They may
be expanded or partially folded, rough on the margins and on the
upper leaf surfauce. The sheaths are glabrous and the liguies are
inconspicuous and membranous. The inflorescence is made up
of clusters of spikelets in long spherical or cylindrical heads
about 2-30 cm long. The spikelets are bristly, each about 1 mm
long, the outer scales sharply pointed and one inner scale usually
with an awn, 1-3 mm long.
Habitat: A weed of krigated rice^ urigation canals and shaUow
waters.
80
Family: POACEAE
Botanical names Ischaemum rugosum Salisb.
Description: A usually climbing, sometimes erect, branched

annual grass growing up to about 1 m high, rooting at the lower
nodes, that reproduces from seeds. The steins are round and
have short white hairs at the nodes. The leaves have Imear
lanceolate blades, 10-30 cm long and 5-12 nmi acros.s. They
have a few scattered strands of hair on the surfaces, pointed tips,
rounded or narrow bases with sharp and cutting margins. The
ligule is pinkish, truncate and hairy, the sheath is sometimes
hairy but only towards the apex. The inflorescence consists of
two slender terminal racemes about 5-10 cm long, that are
appressed tightly when young but are separate at maturity. The
spikelets are about 4-6 mm long, yellow-green and in pahrs (one
stalked and one sessile). They are ridged and have awns, about
1 .5-2 cm long, that are rather twisted at the base.
Habitat: A common weed of wetland areas, difficult to

distinguish from rice when young. It is widespread in West
Africa.
82
Coy J 1 lyi iiCU I ; i ului lal

Family: POACEAE
Botanical name: Leersia hexandra Sw.
Descripdou: A
lax, climbiqg aquatic peramial grass with loqg
rhizomes that root at the nodes and send up erect shoots up to
1 m high, and can reproduce fhmi seeds as well as from
rhizomes. It has round, low branching stems with stiff dense
hairs at the nodes. The leaves are Hnear to Hnear-lanceolate,
about 15 cm long and 1.2 cm wide, stiff and sharply pointed at
the tip. The midrib bears sharp recurved spines, that could
lacerate h[uman skin if it came in contact with this part of the leaf
surfiEice. The leaf margins are razor sharp. The ligule is pale and
membranous, while the sheath is glabrous and has prominent

auricles. The inflorescence is a narrow panicle about 15 cm
long. It has ascending zig-zag branches, each 2-5 cm long and
beariiig bristly , flattened and overUîQg spikelets about 3-4 mm
long.
Habitat: A common weed of river banks, lakes and lowland

rice.
84
I
Family: POACEAE
Botanical name: Lôchba camdescens Steud.
Description: An aquatic, annual grass with erect, sometimes

climbing stems up to 1 .5 m high, rooting at the lower nodes that
reproduces from seeds and vegetatively from stolons. The leaf
blades are flat and narrow, about 20 cm long and 8 mm across
with an acute tqi, rough margins, long and smooth leaf sheaths,
and inconspicuous membranous ligules. The inflorescenoe is a
narrow purplish panicle 10-30 cm long with a straight main axis
and many slender wavy branches all about equal in length,
about 3-7 cm long. The spikelets are purplish when ripe, rathe^r
narrow and about 2-3 mm long.

Habital: A weed of aquatic ecology, commonly found in
lowland rice, marshes and drainage canals. It is yndcsptead in
West Africa.
86
ûpy ighted
I
0
87
Family: POACEAE
Botanical name: Oryza barthii A. Chev. (=0. breviligulata A.
Chev. & Roehr; 0. stapfii Roshev.)
Description: An eiea, tufted, aimual grass about 1.5 m high th^

roots at the lower nodes and rqyroduoes from seeds. The roots
are fibrous, well developed, thiclc and massive. The stems are
rounded and spongy. The leaf blades are flat, linear, about 40-45
cm long and up to 1 .5 cm wide, rough on the upper surfaces and
on the margins, and taper from the middle to a fme narrow tip.
The ligule is short, round, pinlush and membranous and the leaf
sheath smoodi» slightly comfnessed at the dipcx, and lias a
is
prominent midrib. The inflorescence is a dense panicle about 25

cm long with erect and stiff branches, the spikelets are flat,
oblong, 7-10 nam long, rather deciduous and with pink awns 4-
16 mm long.
Habitat: An important weed of lowland rice, also occurring in
swamps and shallow waters.
88
89
Family: POACEAE
Botanical name: Oryza longistaminata A. Chev. &, Roehr.
Common name: wild rice
Description: An erect, rather lax and robust perennial grass 2-

3 m high. It reproduces from seeds and vegetativeiy from
rhizomes. The stem consists of underground rhizomes and above
ground culms. The culms are soft and root at the lower nodes.
The leayes have long, linear blade8,.25-30 cm long and 1-2 cm
across. They are smooth on the lower surface, but rou^ on the
upper surface and at the margin. The leaf tapers from the middle
to a fine point at the apex and to a narrow, falsely-petioled base.
The ligule is large, prominent and acutely pointed and the sheath
is smooth. The inflorescence is a panicle about 25 cm long with
ascîng branches, each about 5 cm long or more and bearing

flat, deciduous spikelets each about 4.5-6 mm
long with long,
pale pinkish-brown awns about 2 cm long or more.
Habitat: A weed of paddy rice that also occurs in marshes, river

banks, and in deep water throughout West Africa, particularly in
Mali and Nigeria.
90
91
Family: POACEAE
Bolanical name: Panicum laxum Sw.
Description: A lax, tufted annual grass 30-60 cm high that

reproduces from seeds. It has slender, rounded steins that may
be erect ur climbing, and have purpii&ii internodes. They may
occasionally develop stolons. The leaves are broadly linear about
20 cm long and 2-8 mm wide. They are flat and smooth on the
surface, slightly rough at the margins, pointed at the tips and
rounded at the base. The leaf sheath is long, glabrous and has a
fringe of white hair at the upper margins. The ligule is
inconspicuous and the inflorescence is a one-sided raceme that

has short secondary branches and small, dull, brownishrred
pikelets about 1-1.5 mm long.
Habitat: A weed of lowland rice, shallow streams and marshes
usually in the forest zone.
92
OopyiiytiiOG inaicnal
Family: POACBAE
Botanical name: Panicum sutaSbidum Kunth
Description: A tufted swamp grass up to 2 m high, that

reproduces from seeds. The culms are soft, thick and spongy;
branched, purplish and often prop-rooted from the lower nodes.
The leaves are pointed at the tip, linear, 30 cm long and L5 cm
across and widest towards the base where they clasp the cuhn.
The margins are rough, but the lower surfaces are smooth and
have prominent midribs and nerves. The leaf sheath is glabrous,
often purplish with a short membranous ligule. The
inflorescence is a large and open panicle about 30 cm long with
ascending branches bearing pale-greenish or purple spilcelets that
are pointed and each about 3 mm loqg.
Habitat: A weed of deep water rice and swamps.
94
Family: POACEAE
Botanical name: Paspalum scrMaUatum Iabsl («• P.
polystachyum R. Br.)
Description: A glabrous, tufted, perennial grass about 60-100

cm high that reproduces from seeds. The stem is erea or
decumbent, rooting at the lower nodes, ladier founded above and
compressed below. The leaves are soft and linear, have pointed
tips, rough margins and are about 30 cm long and 1.6 cm wide.
The leaf sheaths are smooth or hairy and are usually more or
less compressed. The ligule is distinct, short and whitish. The
inflorescence is made up of digitate racemes 4-10 branched and
about 12 cm long. The spikdets are usually in 2 rows and they
are densely crowded and overlapping, «ich about 2 mm in
diameter.
Habitat: A common weed of flood plains and valley bottoms in

both the savanna and forest zones, frequently found in rice
fields.
96
ôpy ighted
I
Family: POACEAE
Botanical name: Pa^Kdum vaginatum Sw.
Description: A glabrous, ponennial grass with meping stems

(stolons) that send up erect culms up to 60 cm high and
reproduces vegetative ly from the stolons. The culms are tough,
oval, usually erectaad covered by overlapping leaf sheaths. The
leaf blades are linear, about 10 cm long and 4 imn wide,
tiqêring from the base to the t^ and are borne in two distmct
rows on each side of the calm. The sheath is ghd)roiis, whUe the
ligule is densely hairy. The inflorescence consists of a pair of
terminal racemes and one overlapping spike below, each about
5 cm long. The spikelets are about 3 mm long, blunt at the tip
and narrowly ovate in shape.
Habitat: An aggressive weed of lowland rice in lagoons and

tidal flood plains, deltas and mangipove swamps.
98
laterial
Family: POACEAE
Botanical name: Sacdokpis afiicana Hubb. ft Snowden
Description: A glabrous perennial grass up to 2 m high, with

rhizomes and spongy culms that root profusely from the lower
nodes. It reproduces from seeds. The culms are robust, inflated
and spongy below and rather slender above water. The leaf blade
is about 15-30 cm long, 0.5-1.5 cm wide, and narrowed al the
base. It is widest around the middle and txpm to a fine pomt.

The leaf sheath is smooth and has rough margms. The ligule is
distinct, short, pale and crescent shaped. The inflorescence is
green, solitary with a terminal spike, 7-30 cm long and about 8
mm thick with glabrous, blunt-tipped spikelets about 3 nun loog.
Habitat: A weed of deep water rice which is also found in
shallow, slow running water wheie the roots may form a coarse
and dense mass.
100
Family: POACEAE
Botanical name: Vossiu cuspidata Griff.
Description: A coarse, robust perennial aquatic grass with long,

thick, spongy culms that may be floating or submerged and
profusely rooting at the nodes, sending up erect shoots to about
1 m high. It is practically hairless and it reproduces from seeds
as well as from vegetative stolons. The culms are generally
rounded and inflated with big internodal air spaces. The leaf
blades are stiit^ long and drooping, about 1 m long and 2.5 cm
wide, they are pointed at the tips, rounded at the base and have
prominent rou^ midribs. The margins have sharp cutting edges
and the upper surface is smooth. The Inflorescence consists of
sub-digitate racemes with up to 7 branches each and about 15-25
cm long on a short common axis. The spikelets are about 8 mm
long and 3 tarn wide and they bear stiff, minutely toothed,
flattened awns.
Habitat: A weed of deep water rice, open waters, flood plains,

fresh water lagoons and inland waterways.
102
laterial
Family: POLYGONACBAE
Botanical name: Polygonum lanigerum R. Br. var. africanim
Meisn.
Common name: sniartweed, knotweed or lady's thumb
Description: A stout perennial herb up to 2 m high that

reproduces from seeds. The stems are swollen at the nodes,
robust and ribbed, rather prominently sheathed (with ochrea) and
are covered with white, soft woolly hairs. The leaves are
alternate, lanceolate to broadly lanceolate, about 10-30 cm long
and 2.5 cm across. Th^ are hoary white with soft wooly and
matted hair, long-pointed at the tips, entire at the margins, and
tapering to the base to a short petiole about 2-4 cm long. The
base of each leaf bears a tubular sheath (ochrea) which has weak
short hairs at the tip. The inflorescence is an expanded raceme
over 2 cm long with pinkish-white flowers about 5 long.mm
The finiil is a black indehiscent nut that is shiny, pointed at the
tip, and about 3 mm across.

Habitat: A weed of lowland rice, swamps and river banks. It is
widespread in West Africa.
104
Family: POLYGONACXAE
Botanical name: Pofygonum salicifoUum Brouss. ex Willd.
Common name: slender knotweed, or slender smartweed
Description: An erect, or sometimes scrambling annual herb

about 90-100 cm high that reproduces from seeds. It has slender,
smooth stems that are segmented into swollen nodes with each
node bearing a long hairy sheath (ochrea) and rooting at the
lower nodes. The leaves are linear-lanceolate about 15 cm loqg
and 1.5 cm wide, sessile or subsessile, pointed at the apex and
smooth on both surfaces or slightly hairy along the midrib and
the margins. The inflorescence is a lax and slender raceme about
2-10 cm long that has sparse flowers. The floHêrs are sessile
and whitish-pink, the fruit is a brown indehiscent nut about 2
mm long that has a pointed tq>.
Habitat: A weed of lowland rice but also grows in marshy

places, along banks of streams, rivers and lakes.
107
Family: PONTEDERIACEAE
Botanical name: Eichhomia nutans (P. Beauv.) Solms-Laub.
Common name; water hyacinth
Description: A glabrous, aquatic herb with a submersed stem

rooted in tiie substrate, and that reproduces from seeds and from
stolons. It has two types of leaves, the submersed leaves that are
linear, have no stalks and are about 3-6 cm long; and the floating
leaves, that are broadly-ovate to orbicular about 1 .5-2.5 cm long
and wide, usually with long slender petioles, entire at the
margins, heart-shaped at the base, smooth on both surfaces and
have many closely ascending nerves on the undersurface. The
flowers are axillary, solitary, small, and have six segments. The
^
petals are purple with yellow spots.
Habitat: A weed of waterways and lowland rice but also found

in streams, lakes and canals.
Other related species: Eichhomia crassipes (Mart.) Solms-

Laub. (floating water-hyacinth). Native of Central and South
America. An introduced species to West Africa, it differs from
E, natans in the following features:
(i) £. crassipes is a taller more robust plant (30 cm to over

1 m tall) than £. natans,
(ii) Inflorescence is a loose terminal spike with showy light

blue to violet flowers.
(iii)
Flowers bear a yellow marking on the upper portion of
the petal.
108
FamUy: PONTEDERIAC£A£
Botanical name: Heteranthera caimbtta Rdib. ex Kuiith
Common name: ducksalad
Description: A glabrous, aquatic lierb about 2.5 cm Ugh with

submerged stems rooting in the substrate that rq)roduce8 from
seeds. The leaves have long hollow petioles up to 25 cm long
that raise the leave blades above the water. The blades are ovate
to lanceolate, about 5-7 cm long and 1 .5 cm wide, heart-shaped
or rounded at the base, rather thin, smooth and with numerous
ascendiDig nerves at the undersurface. The Inflorescence is a
few-flowered spilce, the flowen are small and white and have
tubes about 5 mm long and lobes that are about 4 mm long.
Habitat: A weed of lowland rice and water-logged soils. It is
widely distributed throughout West Africa.
110
wopy I ighted
Family: RUBIACEAE
Botanical name: Pentodon pentandrus (Schum. & Thonn.)
Vatke
Description: A semi-tleshy, climbing perennial herb that grows

in muddy, swampy soils and reproduces from seeds. The stem
is weak, more or less erect, but often trailing. It is shiny and has
no hairs. The leaves are shu^ and smooth, opposite, linear-

lanceolate to lanceolate, about 3-6 cm long and 1-2 cm across,
sessile,and pointed at the base. The inflorescence is an axillary
panicle 6-17 cm long with flowers that have a white corolla 2-3
cm long and pedicels about 1 cm long. The fruits are small,
cup-shaped and have short linear projections at the top.
Habitat; A weed of wet and muddy areas commonly found in

rice paddies.
112
-ôpy ighted
I
113
Family: SALVINIAC£AE
Botanical name: SaJMma nymphdtula Desv.
Common name: salvinia
Description: A
free-floating aquatic fern often found in mass
mats on die surfKe of ponds and stagnant waters. It rqiroduoes
from spores. The stem is irregularly branched and the plant has
no well-defined roots. The fronds (leaves) are in whorls of
three, with two floating leaves and a third leaf which is
submerged. The floating leaves are round to oblong, about 20
mm long and 13 mm
wide. The upper surfaces of the floating
leaves are usually covered with snidl, stiff hairs tlutt make the
leaves resistant to wetting. The under surface has some wettable

hairs. The submerged leaves are dissected into linear segments
that serve as the roots and they also bear the spore-containing
organs (sporocarps). The female spores (megaspores), and the
male spores (microspores) are on the same plant.
Habitat: A weed of fiiesh water lakes, dams, rivers, canals, and

dhches. It is a native of South America but has become
114
vôpy ighted
I
Family: SPHENOCLEACEAE
Botanical name: Sphenoclea zeylanica Gaertn.
Description: A hairless, annual herb up to about 1.5 m high that

reproduces from seeds. The stem is erect, multi-branched,
hollow, fleshy, stout or rigid at the base. It is practically
hairless. The leaves are spirally arranged on the stem and the
leaf blades are oblong-lanoedalie, about 10 cm long and 3 cm
across, entire at the margins, smooth on both surfaces and have
petioles up to 1.3 cm long. The inflorescence is a conically
shaped, terminal spike about 8 cm long and 1.2 a cm wide on
peduncle up to 8 cm long. The flowers are white or sometunes
grey and are crowded on the inflorescence axis. They are
generally sessile and about 2.5 cm long. The fhitt is a capsule,
about 5 mm across, splitting to release numerous pale brown
seeds.
Habitat: A common weed of open swamps, irrigated areas and

rice paddies.
116
Family: STERCULIACBAE
Botanical name: Melochia corchorifolia Linn.
Description: An ei^ct or prostrate bushy perennially 1
m high* that reproduces from seeds. The stem Is hoUow» woody

at the base and arising from a V9eU-developed root system. It is
pale brown and often streaked with star shaped strands of hair,
especially on the young branches. The leaves are alternate, ovate
or oblong-ovate, 3-6 cm long and 4.0 cm wide, rounded or
heart-shaped at the base, acute at the vgcx^ toothed at the
margms and with long They are promhientiy 5-nerved
petioles.
(veins) and are The infloreseenoe is hi terminal
slightly hairy.
clusters, the flowers subtended by hairy slender bracts. The
flowers are small, white, pale pink or yellow. The fruits are
round, slightly hairy, dehiscent capsules. The seeds are small,
dry and dark brown.
Habitat: A weed of moist or hydromorphic locations, often

found in rice fields.
119
Family: TIUACEAE
Botanical name: Ck^pertoniaficffoUa (Willd.) Decne.
Description; An erect, hairy shrub, up to 90 cm high that

reproduces from seeds. The stem is woody and round. It
erect,
is ribbed and has brown star-shaped strands of hair on it. The
leaves are alternate, ovate or broadly ovate or may be sometimes

irregularly lobed. They are up to 13 cm long and 7 cm wide»
toothed at the margins and rounded or heart-shaped at the base.
The petioles are sôul 1 cm long. The leaves have praminent
veins. Both the veins and the leaf surfaces are hairy. The
Inflorescence consists of a few flowers in axillary leafy racemes.
The flowers are purple and are about 5-7.5 cm in diameter when
opened. The fruits are dehiscent capsules, 4-6 cm long and
about 2 cm across, they are prickly and are beset with bristly .
brown hairs.
Habitat: A weed of wet marshy places, often found in

hydromoq)hic soils and flood plains in West Africa.
120
PART U (a)
DRYLAND WEEDS
Dicotyledon Weeds of Arable and
Plantation Crops
Family: ACANTHACEAE
Botanical name: Acanthus montanus (Nees) T. Anders
Common mmie: falsechistle
Description: An erect, prickly perennial up to 2 m high, that

reproduces from seeds and stem cuttings. The stem is stout,
woody and sparsely branched. The leaves are opposite, glossy
and papery, deeply pinnately-lobed, up to 20 cm long and 10 cm
wide. The lobes have spines and the upper surface of the leaves
are dark glossy green in colour. The hifloresoence consists of
cylmdrical spikes about 20 cm long. Flowers are pinkish-white,
subtended by large, ovate, spinuously-toothed bracts. The fruits
are dry dehiscent capsules.
Habitat: A sliade-tdlerant weed of field and plantation crops in

the forests.
126
Family: ACANTHACEAE
Botanical name: Asystasia gangetica (Linn.) T. Anders
Description: An annual tob, 20-30 cm high that reproduces by

seed. The stem is erect or semi-straggling, quadrangular in
cross-section, segmented into nodes 10-15 cm ârt, and may be
smooth or slightly hairy. The leaves are opposite, decurrent on
the petioles, ovate or broadly triangular, variable in size, 3-7 cm
long and cm wide, smooth to softly hairy. The
3-3.5
mfloresoence a one-sided raceme about 10 cm long. The
is
flowers are 1.5 cm Icmg and tubular. The petals are white, 5-
lobed, with some purple streaks on the upper lip. The fruH is a
dry dehiscent capsule about 2.5 cm long.
Habitat: A common weed of cultivation, roadsides and waste

areas.
128
ôpy ighted
I
Family: ACANTHACEAE
Botanical name: Blepharis maderaspatensis (Linn.) Heine &
Roth.
Description: A coarse, procumbent shrub, 40 cm high that

reproduces by seed. The stem is slender, round, pointed and
dichotomously branched. The leaves are whorled and are up to
4 at a node. Each leaf is 6 cm long and 3 cm across, obovate to
broadly oblanceolate, scabrid on the upper surface, rather bristly
on the lower surface. The innorescence consists of short,
on a main peduncle about 3 cm long. The
clustered spikes, 2-4
flowers are white in colour and are subtended by stiff, bristly,
oval-shaped bracts that are ciliate at the margin. The firuit is a

capsule.
Habitat: A common weed of cultivated fields, bush regrowth,

waste areas and roadsides in the forest-savanna transition zone.
130
131
laterial
Family: ACANTHACEAE
Botanical name: Hypoestes cancelkua Nees
Description: A climbing herbaceous annual about 40 cm high

rooting at the lower nodes, and rq|)roduces from seeds. The stem
is angled, has many branches and is pubescent. The leaves are
opposite, variable in both shape and size, oval, linear or
oblanceolate, 10-12 cm long, and 3-4 cm wide. The
inflorescence consists of short spikes up to 3 cm long. The
flowers have variable colours ranging from pink to yellowish-
pink. The fruit is a smooth, dehiscent capsule about 1.5 cm
long.
Habitat: An extremely variable and widespread weed of the

savanna, it is common on wastelands, cultivated fields and bush
tallows.
132
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133
Family: ACANTHACEAE
Botanical name: Hypoestes forskalei (Vahl) Soland. ex Roem.
& Schult. Hypoestes verticiUaris)
Descriptioii: An erect, tufked annual about 25 cm high that

reproduces from seeds. The stem is more or less angled,
smooth Jointed with swollen nodes. The leaves are oblanceolate,
variable in size, 7-15 cm long and 2-3.5 cm across, and
glabrous. The inflorescence consists of axillary or terminal
spikes, dense, rather zig-zag and about 12 cm long. The flowers
are creamy-white and fhiffy.
Habitat: A conmion weed of open cultivated fields in the humid

forest areas.
134
135
Family: ACANTHAC£A£
Botanical name: Justicia flam (Forsk.) Vahl
Description: A straggling, hairy, branched annual; commonly 30

cm high but may grow to 90 cm high, that reproduces from
seeds. The stem is conspicuously jointed, hollow, furrowed and
hairy.The leaves are opposite, lanceolate, about 12 cm long and
5.5 cm wide tapering at both ends and prominently veined. The
Inflorescence consists of pubescent spikes about 15 cm long. The
flowers are 3 -lipped, yellow with dark streaks. The fruit is a dry
dehiscent capsule about 2 cm long.
Habitat: A common weed of waste areas and compound farms

usually growing on moist soils.
136
Copyi K^jl iGd material

137
Family: ACANTUAC£A£
Botanical name: Moneclima ciliatum (Jacq.) Milne-Redhead
Description: A coarse hairy, dichotomously branched annual up

to 60 cm high, that reproduces from seeds. The stem is slightly
angled, pithy, roughly haury and woody at the base. The leaves
are opposite, linear about 10-12 cm long and 1 .5 cm wide, rough
to the touch, sessile or sometimes petiolate. The inflorescence
is made up of short axillary spikes with ciliate hairy bracts each
enclosing a 2 -lipped white tlower with purple stripes on the

upper lip and purple spots on the lower lip. The fruit is a short
dry dehiscent capsule containing two black seeds.
Habitat: A common weed of crop fields in the savanna zone.
138
139
Family: AIZOACEAE
Botanical name: Trianthema portulacastrum Linn.
Common name: horse purslane
Description: A prostrate, semi-succulent annual herb that roots

at the. nodes and reproduces from seeds. The stem is fleshy,
smooth and has many hranches. The leaves are opposite, smooth
or slightly hairy, orbicular, 3-4 cm long, and have entire
margins and petioles that are up to 20 mm long. The
inflorescence consists of a solitary flower that is partly enclosed
in a leaf sheath, usually without petals but with five pinkish-
white sepals. The fruit is a small axillary capsule about 4 mm
across. The seeds are black, flat and kidney-shaped and are up
to 10 in a capsule.
Habitat: A conunon weed in cultivated fields, widespread in

West Africa and common ui bush fallows and waste areas.
140
Botanical name: Achyranthes aspera L.
Common name: devlFs horsewhip
Description: A semi-climbing, hairy annual up to 2 m high, but

commonly up to 90 cm high, that reproduces from seeds. The
stem is woody at the base, but inay sometimes be scrambling,
many branched, sparsely hairy or have dense soft. hairs. The
leaves are oiq)osite, variable in ^bape^ ovate to ovate-lanceolate
or broadly dliptic, generally not exceeding 15 cm long and 2.5
cm wide, smooth to slightly hairy. The inflorescence is a
simple, terminal spike up to 50 cm long. The flowers are
greenish-pink and silvery. The fruit is a one-seeded indehiscent
utricle, with brown shiny seeds.
Habitat: A widely-occurring, shade-tolerant tnipical weed found

in both annual and perennial crop fields.
142
Cop^ i-jiK.^j rnateriaf

Cc '
laterial
Family: ANfARANTHACEAE
Botanical name: Aerva javanica (Burm. f.)» Juss ex Schult.
Description: An erect hoary annual, up to 60 cm high, that

reproduces from seeds. The stem is woody, sparsely brandied
with star-shaped strands of white hair. The leaves are alternate,
lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, about 7 cm long and 3.5 cm wide,
usually with soft white hairs. The inflorescence is a long,
cylindrical, ternunai spike, dense, leafless and hairy. The
flowers are white in colour.
Habitat: A weed of crop fields m the savanna vegetation zone.
144
Copyriyti
Cc '
laterial
FamUy: AMARANTHACEAE
Botanical name: Alternanthera pungens H. B. & K.
A. repens [Linn.] Link.)
Common mune: klialdweed or kfaakibur
Description: A prickly, creeping perennial herb, 50-60 cm high

that reproduces by seed and vegetativeiy through stem cuttings.
The stem has a woody lootstock, is prostrate, rooting at the
nodes, pubescent and sometimes reddish in colour. The leaives
are opposite, broadly oval, have entire margins and vary in size
up to 4 cm long and 2 cm wide. The inflorescence occurs in
dense axillary clusters about 1 cm long. The flowers are small,
silvery- white, with sharply-tipped perianth and bracts. The fruit
is a one-seeded indehiscent capsule. Tlie seed is small and
shiq)ed like a maize seed.
Habitat: A common weed of waste areas, field crops, lawns,

roadsides and open areas.
146
^laterial
Botanical name: Amaranthus spinosus Linn.
Common name: thorny pigweed, spiny amaranth
Description: An erect, prickly annual herb uphigh to 60 cm

reproducing ttom seeds (top photo). The stem round
is fleshy,
and hairless, greenish but sometunes reddish and always with
rigid, sharp pointed spines about 10 mm long. The leaves are
alternate, ovate or broadly-lanceolate, 6-8 cm long and 2-4 cm
wide, tapering into slender petioles about 7 cm long, beneath
which arc the spines. The inflorescence consists ot long terminal
and short axillary spikes. The flowers are small, greenish m
colour and occur in clusters with male flowers at the top and
female flowers below. The fhiit is a one-seeded capsule, with
shiny, lens>shaped reddish-brown seeds.
Habitat: A pan-tropical weed, widespread in West Africa and

common in annual, perennial and pasture crops; also in waste
areas and roadsides.
Other related spedes: Two of the related species that commonly

occur arei4. hybridus Linn, (middle photo) and A. viridis Linn
(bottom photo). These species have no spines and the stems are
greenish in colour but may be pinkish. Amaranthus hybridus is
highly hybridized and exhibits a wide colour variation. Both

species, but mainly A, hybridus^ are cultivated or harvested from
the wild and eaten as a vegetable in parts of West Africa.
148
Botanical name: Celosia isertii C. C. Townsend
(^Cehsia laxa Schum. & Thonn.)
Description: A straggling, sometimes climbing annual, up to
3 m commonly growing to 40 cm high, that reproduces
high but
from seeds. The stem is pithy and grooved, many-branched and
hairless. The leaves are alternate, ovate or broadly-ovate about
5 cm long and 3 cm wide and smooth on both leaf surfaces. The
petiole is 1-3 cm long. The Inflorescence is a densely clustered
terminal spike about 20 cm long, with white tlowers. The fruits
are many seeded utricles with small, shiny brown or black seeds
about 0.5 mm in diameter.
Habitat: A common* weed of crop fields.
150
151
FamUy: AMARANTHACBAE
Botanical name: Celosia leptostachya Benth.
Description: An erect, sometimes straggling annual, up to 60 cm

high that rq)roduces from seeds. The stem is angled, slender and
hairless with the basal part decumbent. It is usually about 30 cm
high, but up to 60 cm when straggling up on supports. The
leaves are smooth, simple and alternate, ovate, 2-8 cm long and
1-3 cm wide. The petioles are about 3 cm long. The
inflorescence is long and slender, consisting of axillary spikes.
The flowers are white and occur in distantly spaced clusters on
The fhilts are utricles with many black, shmy seeds.
the axis.
Habitat: A common weed of cultivated fields in both forest and

savanna zones of West Afii^.
152
153
Botttiical luune: Cyathula prostrata (L.) Bhune
Description: A semi-erect, many-branched annual, 30-90 cm

high, that reproducesfrom seeds. The stem is slender, the lower
part is decumbent, the entire stem is greenish or dull-red with
soft to moderately stiff hairs, rather jointed and somewhat
swollen at the nodes. The teaves are oiqx)site, rhomboid,
variable in size —
3-8 cm long and 2-5 cm wide, hairy, sessile
or sub-sessile.The Inflorescence is a slender, elongated spike up
to 20 cm long. The flowers are small and greenish, occur in
clusters that are widely separated on the lower part of the axis
and densely crowded towards the tip. Usually, only about three
flowers are fertile, and these are surrounded by several sterile
flowers with hooked, spinous s^mentstiiat may stick to dresses
and human or aninud hau:. The fhiit Is a spinous mdehiscent
capsule.
Habitat: A pan-tropical weed of cultivated fields in the forest

zone in West Africa. It is also common in plantation crops.
154
Botanical name: Gomphrena cehsioides Mart.
Description: A hairy, decumbent annual or perennial about

20 cm high with a woody tap root. It reproduces from seeds.
The stem is slender, weak, contracted at the nodes, with the
upper portion beset with white pilose hairs. The leaves are
opposite, oblong or lanceolate, 3-3.5 cm long and 1.0-1.15 cm
wide, without petioles, but with white moderately stiff hairs on
the leaf surface. The inflorescence consists ojp short cylmdrical
spikes about 2 cm long and 1 cm wide, which occur at stem tips.
The flowers are yellow and inconspicuous and are subtended by

white, t)vate bracts that are somewhat toothed. The fruits are
indehiscent and one-seeded and the seeds are flat.
Habitat: A weed of lawns and waste areas, but also found in

crop fields. Probably introduced into West Africa but now
widespread.
156
Family: AMARANTHAC£AE
Botanical name: Pupalia lappacea (Linn.) Juss.
Description: An erect, branched, pubescent annual, up to

100 cm high, commonly 60 cm, that reproduces from seeds.
but
The stem is generally weak but woody at the base, brandied and
beset with soft hairs. The leaves are softly hairy, opposite,
ovate, about 4-8 cm long and 2-4 cm wide, wedge-shaped at the
base and with prominent lateral veins. The inflorescence consists

of long spikes about 20-30 cm long. The flowers are greenish,
occur in clusters and generally have white, soft woolly hairs.
There may be several sterile flowers that are prickly with hooked
spines in the inflorescence.
Habitat: A common weed of cultivated fields, waste areas and

roadsides in the forest zone. It is widespread in tropical Africa.
158
159
Family: ASTERACEAE
Botanical name: Acanthospermum hispidum DC.
Commoii name: bristly starbur
Descripitom An erect, up to 60
multi-branched, bushy annual,
cm from seeds. The stem is sub-woody,
high, that reproduces
round and covered with coarse white hairs. The leaves are
simple and opposite, obovate, 6-8 cm long and 2-4 cm wide,
acute, wedge-sh'aped and sessile at the base, fmely-dentate at the
margins and hairy on both surfaces. The inflorescence consists

of a solitary flower-head about 5 mm
across, occurring at the
nodes and subtended by five calyx bracts. The flowers are pale
greenish ydlow, univariate florets surrounded by 2-spined
involucral bracts. The fruits are star-shaped achenes covered
with sharp, hooked prickles, two of wtiich are horn-shaped and
longer tlian tlie otliers.
Habitat: A common weed of cultivated iand, pastures, roadsides

and waste areas. It is widespread in West, Central and East
Africa.
160
ôpy I ighted
Family: ASTERACEAE
Botanical name: Ageratum conyzoides Linn.
Common name: billy goatweed, tropic ageratum, goatweed
Description: An erea, softly hairy aromatic annual herb, up to

70 cm liigh that reproduces from seeds. The stem is weak,
branched and softly hairy. The leaves are opposite, ovate, up to
8 cm long and 5 cm wide with acute apex and serrated margins.
They are softly hairy and have petioles up to 5 cm long. The
inflorescence is a terminal corymb and occurs in clusters of
about 10 tlower-heads, each up to 7 mm wide. The flowers are
tubular florets, often pale blue, but sometimes white in colour.
The fruits are slender, black achenes encircled by 5 white
pointed scales. Dispersal is by wind and ammals.
Habitat: An ephemeral weed of crop fields, widespread in West

and other parts of tropical Africa.
162
163
FamUy: ASTERAC£AE
Botanical name: Aspilia africana (Pers.) CD. Adams
Comnum name: haemorrhage plant
Description: A scrambling, perennial herb varying in height

trom 60 cm to about 1.5 m depending on rainfall and soil
fertility. It reproduces from seeds. The stem is stiff at the base,

with many branches and rather rough to the touch. The leaves
are opposite, ovate-lanceolate, 6-15 cm long and 3-7 cm wide;
they are rounded at the base with petioles about 1 cm long, hairy
and with three prominent vems. The inflorescence consists of
solitary terminal flower heads with hairy stalks about 4-10 cm
long. The flowers have showy yellow florets. The fruits are 4-
angled achenes about 5 mm long, bristly and minutely hairy.
Habitat: A common weed of crop fields in West Africa, also

found in tallow land, especially in the forest zone«
164
165
Family: ASTERACEAE
Botanical name: Aspilia bussei O. Hoffin. & Musclil.
Common name: white-tlowered haemorrhage plant
Description: A hairy annual herb, 60-90 cm high. It rq>roduces

from seeds. The stem is branched, slender and straggling. It is
covered by short appressed haurs. The leaves are small, opposite

lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, sessile or subsessile and hairy.
The infloresence is made up of solitary capitula at the terminals
or in leaf axils. The capitulum is borne on a long peduncle. The
flowers are generally white, but sometimes may be mauve.
Habitat: A weed of the savanna agroecological zone. It is
conunon on arable fields and bush fallows.
166
167
" aterial
Family: AST£RAC£A£
Botanical name: Bidens pilosa Linn.
Common name: Cobblers pegs, hairy beggar ticl^, blackjaclc
Description: An met, aromatic ammal herb up to 1.5 m high,

commonly up to 3(M0 cm, that rq>rodiices from seeds. The
stem is quadrangular, hollow and ribbed; many branched,
generally green but sometimes dark red and smooth to slightly
hairy. The leaves are opposite and trifoliate and may
occasionally have, five-stalked, ovate leaflets. The leaf is rarely
simple; leaflets are ovate up to 10 cm long and 5 on wide, the
terminal leaflet always larger than the lateral ones; the margin
is
is serrated, and has petioles which may be up to 2 cm long. The

inflorescence consists of solitary terminal loosely branched heads
on peduncles up to 10 cm long. The flowers are capitula with a
yellow disc and white ray florets about 1 cm long. The fruits are
black, narrow achenesiip to 1.5 cm long, usually hooked with
2-4 strongly barbed awns.
Habitat: A conunon arable weed in the forest zones, generally

cosmopolitan and common in cultivated fields.
Family: AS iERACEAE
Botanical name: Qiromolaena odorata (L.) R. M. King &
Robinson {Êupatoriim odorattm L.)
Common name: siamweed
Description: A disuse, rapidly growing, strongly scented

perennial shrub up to 3 m or more high, that reproduces from
seeds and vegetatively from cut basal shoots. The stem is
cylindrical, robust, rather scrambling and dichotomously

branched. It is sparingly pubescent. The leaves are opposite,
ovate to triangular-ovate, immature leaves are often purplish but
mature leaf blades are greenish, up to 12 cm long and 5 cm
across with an acute apex. The blade may have sub-entire to
coarsely toothed margins. The leaves may be hairless or
sparingly hairy. However, they generally have glandular dots
that emit a strong smell. The inflorescence is a many-tlowered
corymb, usually at the terminals, but occasionally in the axils of
upper leaves. The flowers are pale blue, mauve or whitish with
florets borne in pedunculate clusters.
Habitat: A troublesome weed of open cultivated fields, roadsides

and plantation crops. It is widespread in West Africa from the
coastal fringes of the rainforest to the southern edge of the
Guinea savaima.
170
Family: ASTERACEAE
Botanical name: ChrysantheUum indicum (Linn.) Vatlce var.
afroamericanum Turner (^C^santhdhun americamm [Linn.]
Vatke)
Common name: African wild daisy
Description: A low procumbent, faintly aromatic annual herb,

about 10-15 cm hjgh, that reproduces from seeds. The stem is
woody at the base. The leaves are alternate; about 5 cm long, 3

cm wide, variously and deeply dissected. The leaf segments are
lanceolate. The inflorescence is made up of small, long-stalked
.flower heads occurring singly at the ends of the stems and in the
upper axils of leaves. The flowers are about 4 mm long. Disc
florets are yellow, while the ray florets are mconspicuous. The
fruits are flat, winged achenes that have no pappus.
Habitat: A weed of waste areas, bush fallows and roadsides in

the northern Guinea savanna zone.
172
Family: AST£RACEA£
Botanical name: Conyza suniatrensis(R&tz.) Walker (=Erigeron
floribundus [H. B. & K.J )
Commoii name: fleabane
Description: An erect, softly-hairy, annual herb up to 120 cm

high, that reproduces from seeds. The stem is subwoody at the
base, ribbed, hairy and often not branched bdow the
infloiescence. The kaves are variable, with the upper ones
alternate on the stem, while the lower ones are in a losette at the
base. The kaves are sessile, hairy, lanceolate to oblanceolate, 4-
8 cm long and 1-5 cm wide, sub-entire or deeply serrated, acute
and gradually becoming winged at the base. The inflorescence
is a long, leafy, axillary panicle with clusters of numerous small,
dull-yellow to brown florets about 6 mm loqg on ascending
pedicels.
Habitat: A weed of cultivated fields and roadsides, commonly

found in hilly regions, in the forest/savannatransition zone.
174
Family: AST£RAC£A£
Botanical name: Emilia coccinea (Sims) G. Don
Common name: yellow tasselilow^
Description: A semi-erect annual herb covered with a fine

greyish-blue bloom (see upper photo). It grows to a height of 50
cm and reproduces from seeds. The stem is hollow, weak and
usually not branched below the intlorescence, sparingly hairy to
smooth. The leaves are simple and alternate, semi-tleshy, ovate,
6-12 cm long and 3-6 cm wide. The upper leaves are sessile and
have dilated bases that clasp the stem while the lower leaves
have winged petioles, generally smooth with greyish-blue bloom
and wavy or unevenly dentate margins. The inflorescence
consists of a terminal, cylindrical capitulum about 1 cm across
and borne on a long slender stalk.The flowers have yellow or
orange-yellow florets that are surrounded by 2 rows of bracts.
The involucral bracts are usually 15 in number.
Habitat: A common weed of arable crops and waste areas. It is
widespread in West Africa, especially in the forest zone.
Other related species: Emilia praetermissa Milne-Redhead

Emilia praetermissa (lower photo) is similar to E. coccinea but
has 10 involucral bracts instead of 15, and pale-fleshy, dull-pink
or mauve florets instead of orange yellow or yellow as in £.
coccinea.
176
Oopy iiytv
Family; AST£RAC£A£
Botanical name: Laggera aurita (LimLf.) Benlli. ex C.B. CI.
(^Blumea aurita [Linn, f.] DC.)
Description: An erect, branched, aromatic annual herb with

dense silky hairs, up to 90 cm high, that nproduces fro
The atam is sobwoody, ribbed and shordy wuiged. It is many
branched, densely tomentose, and dotted with aromatic glands.
The leaves are alternate; at first in basal rosettes, variable, oval,
lobed or dentate, up to 4 cm long and 2-3 cm wide. The base is
decurrent on the stem, tomentose, and also has glandular dots.

The inflorescence is rather spreading with several involucres in
one head. The flowers have greenish, yellowish white or mauve
florets with narrow bracts.
Habitat: A weed of the derived and Guinea savanna zones of

West Africa. It is found in maize, yam and cassava fields. It is
178
179
Family: ASTERACEAE
Botanical name: Launaea taraxadfolia (Willd.) Amm. MS ex
C. Jeffrey; (^Lactuca taraxadfolia [Willd.] Schum. ex
Hornemann; Launaea cornuta [Olive. Hiem] C. Jeffrey).
Common name: wildlettuce
Description: An erect, rhizomatous annual or perennial herb,

with greyish blue bloom. It grows to a height of 1.5 m and
reproduces from seeds and proliferating rhizomes. All parts of
the plant contain milky latex. The stem is erect, finely grooved
and smooth. The leaves forming the basal rosette are narrowed
to a short winged stalk and have deeply cut lobes that are
serrated at the margins. The stem leaves are alternate, sessile
with a leaf base clasping the stem. All the leaves are smooth and
waxy, about 25 cm long and 5-10 cm wide. The inflorescence
is an open, many branched panicle with deep yellow florets.
Habitat: A weed of cultivated land and waste areas, sometimes

used as a vegetable.
180
181
FamUy: ASTERACEAE
Botanical name: Melanihera scandens (ScliiinL Sl Thonn.)
Roberty
Description: A scrambling leafy perennial herb trailing to a

length of 3 m. The stem is quadrangular in cross-section, many-
branched and rough to the touch. The leaves are opposite,
broadly-ovate, 7-15 cm long and 3-lO.cm wide, nearly entuoe at
the margins, acuminate at the apex, cordate to truncate at the
base, rather scabrid and usually with a long stalk. The
inflorescence consists of solitary flower heads with long pedicels
about 15 cm long, usually in the axils of upper levels. Each
inflorescence head is about 2.5 cm wide and consists of both ray
and disc flowers that are oraoge-yellow.
Habitat: A common weed of newly cleared forests, roadsides

and bush regrowths. It is widespread in the forest zone of West
Africa.
182
183
FamUy: AST£RAC£A£
Botuiieil name: SdmKOFpus ofiicanus Jacq; cx Mun
Description: An erect but moderately branched annual herb,

about 80-100 cm high that profusely reproduces from seeds. The
stem is rounds sometimes ribbed, many-branched, dull, reddish
brown, and coveted with short stiff hairs The leaves are simple,
.
alternate, rarely opposite, ovate, 6-12- cm

long, 3-6 cm wide,
widely crenate lat the upper part, abruptly cuneate at the base,
and pubescent on both surfaces. The Inflorescence is a terminal
capitulum subtended by leafy bracts. The ray florets are yellow,
three or four, sterile and rather small. The fruits are ribbed
achenes without pappus, enclosed by thickened bracts, and itchy
when.dry. The seeds are bhK:k, smbodiand about 6 mm long.
Habitat: A common weed of arable crops. The weed is

widespread in the derived and southern Guinea savanna zones of
West Africa. >
>
185
Family: ASTBRACEAE
Botanical name: Spilanthes filicaulis (Schum. & Thonn.) C. D.
Adams
Descriptian: A meping amiual herb with prostrate sterna rooting

from tlienodes that reproduces from seeds. The stem is
prostrate, weak and smooth. The leaves are alternate, ovate, 3
cm long and 1.5 cm wide. The blade is closely attached to the
stem on a short slightly hairy petiole. The inflorescence consists
of ovoid flower lieads in sliort axillary peduncles. Both the ray
and disc flowers are yellow in colour.
Habitat: A weed of crop fields in moist soils. It is also common

in waste areas, roadsides and short duration fallows.
186 /
Family: ASTERACEAE
Botanical name; Synedrella nodiflora Gaertn.
Common name: nodeweed, starwort, synedrella
Description: A subwoody, annual herb up to 60 cm liigli, that

reproduces from seeds. The stem is erect, or sometimes
prostrate,woody at the base, dichotomously-branched and fairly
rough to the touch. The leaves are simple and opposite, ovate,
about 10 cm long and 5 cm wide, pointed at the apex with a
wedge-shaped base ending in winged petioles that are 2-3 cm
long. The leaf has serrated margins and the lower surface is
rough to tiie touch. The inflorescence consists of terminal or
axillary clusters of flower-head9 with yellow florets subtended by
leafy bracts.
Habitat: A weed of cultivated crops and lawns, roadsides, waste

areas and shades. It is widely distributed in the humid region of
West Africa.
188
I
Family: ASTERACEAE
Botanical name: Tithonia diversijblia (fieml.) A. Gray
Common name: Mexican suntlower, tree marigold
Description: A bushy, many-branched, perennial weed up to

2.5 m high, from seeds and from a vegetative
that reproduces
regrowth of basal stem when the plant is cut. The stem is
quadrangular, spirally-ridged, pubescent below and glabrous

above. The leaves are simple and alternate, with 3 to 5 deep
lobes, obovate, 5-15 cm long and 3.5-6 cm wide, dark green,
rough to the touch above, pubescent below, toothed, acute and
wedge-shaped at the base. The petiole is winged. The
inflorescence is a soOtary capitulum on a peduncle 7-15 cm long
with large orange-yellow florets 5-10 cm across. The fruit is a
compressed and awned achene about 6 mm long.
Habitat: This plant was probably introduced into West Africa as
an ornamental plant but has become a weed of crop fields, waste
190
FamUy: ASTERAC£AE
Botanical name: Didax procumbens Linn.
Common name: tridax, coat buttons
Descriptioii: A rough liairy annuallierb, with weak, trailing
branches up to 40 cm higli, sometimes rooting at the lower

nodes, that reproduces from seeds. The stem is soft wooded,
semi-prostrate and low-branching from a woody tap root. It is
generally hairy. The leaves are simple, opposite, ovate or

broadly-lanceolate, 5-7 cm ion^ and 2-3 cm wide, coarsely-
toothed with a pointed apex, wedge-sluqped at the base, subsessile
and rather rough to the touch. The iiôresoence is a solitary,
terminal or axillary flower-head on a slender peduncle up to 20
cm long. The flowers consist of ray florets that are creamy white
and tri-lobed and disc florets that are yellow.
Habitat: A common weed of cultivated crops, lawns, waste

192
FamUy: ASTERACEAE
Botanical name: Vemonia ambigua Kotschy & Peyr
Common name: ironweed
Description: An erect, coarse, bushy annual herb up to 60 cm

high, that rq)rodi]ces from seeds. The stem is erect, woody,
ribbed, hairy and leafy, especially at flowering tune. The leaves
are simple and alternate, oblanceolate, about 2-6 cm long and
0.6-1.0 cm wide. The upper leaves have serrated margins and
are coarsely-hairy. The inflorescence consists of clusters of
tlower-heads 10-15 mm in diameter with pale bluish or mauve
florets usually at the ends of leafy branches.
Habitat: A weed of the savanna zones, often found in cultivated

fields and waste areas.
I
195
Family: ASTERACEAE
Botanical name: Vernonia cinerea (Linn. ) Less.
Commoii name: little ironweed
Description: An erect, branclied, white-haired, ammal herb 30-

120 cm high, that reproduces from seeds. The stem is erect and
thin with more or less vertical branching. It is usually ribbed and
bears short fine hairs. The leaves are simple and alternate, and
variable from 2-8 cm long and 2-3 cm wide. The lower leaves
are ovate with entire or sub-entire margins, while the upper
leaves are small, linear and irregularly toothed. Hie petioles are
short and winged. The inflorescence is a flat-topped panicle with
many round, purple or pinkish-blue florets about 3 mm across,
clustered together on slender stalks and usually with numerous
involucres. The fruit is an achene about 1 .5 mm long with white
pappus.
Habitat: A common weed of cultivation, roadsides and waste

areas. It is widespread in West Africa.
196
Oopydytiieo inaicnal
197
Family: ASTBRACEAE
Botanical name: Vernonia galamensis (Cass.); Less. (=
Vernonia pauciflora [Willd.])
Commim name: iionweed
Description: An erect, leafy annual herb up to 90 cm high, that

reproduces from seeds. The stem is hairy, pithy, woody at the
base, with thread-like lines that are parallel, giving an alternate

column and furrow pattern on the stem. The leaves are simple
and alternate, lanceoktte to oblanceohue, 5-15 cm long and 2-6
cm wide, acuminate, distantly-toothed and pubescent especially
on the nerves. The inflorescence is a corymb with mauve florets
on long pedicels up to 8 cm long with numerous, scaly, soft,
hairy involucres bracts. The fruit is a black achene with white
haiiy piqipus.
Habitat: A weed of Guinea and Sudan savanna zones,

widespread in West Africa and commonly found in grain legume
fields and fallows.
198
Copyrighted iTialciial
199
^
aterial
Family: ASTERACEAE
Botanical name: Vernonia perrottetii Sch. Bip.
Common mmie: ironweed
Description: An erect, rough and hairy annual herb about 60-80

cm high, that reproduces from seeds. The stem is woody, with
many branches and rough to the touch. The leaves are linear,
needle-like, bent backwards (recurved) and about 2-5 cm long.
Tlie inflorescence is a solitary, somewliat bell-shaped, apical
flower-liead about 1.5 cm long, latlier rougli to tlie touch
substended acute and softly hairy involucres. The flower-head
consists of purplish-red ray and disc florets.
Habitat: A common weed of cultivated crops in the savanna

zones throughout West Africa.
200
Family: BIGNONIACEAE
Botanical name: Nev\4}ouldia laem (P. Beauv.) Seemann ex
Bureau
Description: A fast-growing hairless perennial, normally a small

tree that grows up to 15 m high, but commonly bushy and
shrubby around settlements and secondary forests. It reproduces
from seeds and vegetatively from basal portions of cut stems.
The stem is woody, usually low branching, irregularly twisted,
smooth and with knobby twigs. The Itoves are compound,
pinnate, opposite or, occasionally, whorled and are about 50 cm
long. The rhachis is conspicuously swollen at the nodes and has
two glands on the petiole which is about 8 cm long. There are
3-6 pairs of leaflets. Each leaflet is oblanceolate, 10-20 cm long
and 5-10 cm wide, serrate, lon^-acuminate, sessile or with short
The leaf blade is papery, smooth with promment veins.
petioles.
Each pmnate leaf is borne on a petiole that is about 8 cm long.
The Inflorescence is a dense, terminal racemose-panicle with
reddish-pink or purple tubular flowers about 5-6 cm long, often
attractive to ants. The fruit is a long, pendulous, dehiscent
capsule about 30 cm long, dotted with glands that tend to attract
ants. The seeds are flat and winged.
Habitat: This plant is common in dry secondary forests. Its

primary use is as a live fence around settlements and in native
shrines. It has become widespread as a weed in no-till
where the fast-growing shoot regrowths from basal

cultivation,
stumps have proved troublesome to no-till crops at the early
stages of crop growth.
202
laterial
Fanuly: BORAGINACEAE
Botanical name: Heliotropium nuMcum Limi.
Common name: Indian heliotrope, turnsole, cock's comb
Description:An erect, many-bnuiched, hairy annual lierb, up to

90 cm high, that reproduces from seeds. The stem is robust,
semi-woody and covered with dense soft hairs. The leaves, are
simple, alternate, broadly-ovate, 4-12 cm long and 2-5 cm wide.
The leaf blade is hairy and somewhat blistered; acute, wedge-
shaped at the base, irregularly toothed and sometimes entire at
the margins.The petiole is winged. The inflorescence is a long,

slender spike up to 20 cm long, curved toward the tip and
bearing small, pale, bluish-white flowers that are crowded on
one side of the spike and at the tip.
Habitat: A common weed of moist soils, cultivated fields and

wastelands.
204
FamUy: BORAGINACEAE
Botanical name: Heliotropium ovalifolium Forsk
Description: A diffuse annual herb up to 30 cm high with a deep

tap root. It reproduces from seeds. The stem is woody at the
base, slender, sub-erect and densely covered with soft white
hairs. The leaves are simple and alternate, oblong-elliptic, 10-20
mm long and 5-8 mm wide. The leaf blade is entire, shortly
petiolate and has dense white hairs. The leaf-tip has an abrupt
end (mucronate). The inflorescence is a slender spike-like cyme
on a peduncle about 5-7 cm long, bearing small white flowers
crowded at the tip of the spikes.
Habitat: A weed of moist soils but often found in cultivated

fields, waste areas and roadsides.
206
207
lal
Family: CARYOPHYLLACEAE
Botanical name: Polycarpaea corymbasa (Linn.) Lam.
Description: An erect, branched hairy lierb that can grow to a

height of about 30-40 cm. It reproduces by seeds. The steins are
spreading, corymbose and segmented. The leaves are linear,
about 2 cm long and 1 mm
wide. The inflorescence consists of
many flowers in globose heads at the terminals of the stems. The
flowers are pink to reddish in colour and are rather showy.
Habitat: A weed of the Guinea savamia. It is widespread in

West Attica.
208
Family: CLEOMACEAE
Botanical name: Cleome rutidosperma DC.
Description: An erect, annual herb up to 90 cm high, that

reproduces from seeds. The stem is cylindrical, soft wooded,
greenish with fairly coarse liairs. Tlie leaves are compound,
trifoliate with petioles up to 5 cm long. The leaflets are ovate to
ovate-lanceolate, 1-4.5 cm long and 1.8 cm wide, round or
wedge-shaped at the base, entire and pubescent. The central
leatlet is always the largest. The inflorescence is a leafy, axillary
raceme with solitary flowers 1-1.5 cm wide on slender pedicels
about 3 cm long. The tlowers are pale-lilac, white or pinkish in
colour. The fruit is a long, 2.5-6 cm long and 3-4 mm wide,
cylindrical, stipitate capsule usually found at the axils of leaves
on the lower part of the inflorescence.
Habitat: Widespread in West Africa.
210
Family: CLEOMAC£A£
Botanical name: Cleome viscosa L.
Common mmie: consumption weed, spider plant
Description: An erect, sticky, aromatic annaal herb up to 60 cm

high, that reproduces from seeds. The stem is cylindrical, soft-
wooded and sticky with glandular hairs. The leaves are
compound, alternate, paimately divided, rather variable,
normally five, very rarely 3-6 leaflets, on a common petiole 2.5-
4.0 cm long. Leaflets are ovate to obovate, obtuse at the apex,
wedge-shaped at the base, sessile to subsessile, entu:e, 1-3 cm
long and 0.5-1 .5 cm wide. The leaflets have sticky and aromatic
glandular hairs. The terminal leaflet is always the largest. The
inflorescence is a long, leafy terminal raceme with yellow,
solitary flowers. The fruit is a cylindrical pod, 6-8 cm long and
3-4 mm wide, with fine longitudinal lines or streaks (striates).
The pod is densely covered with glandular hairs; it is borne on

a peduncle that is about 3 cm long.
Habitat: A pantropic weed, common in cultivated fields, waste

areas and settlements throughout West Africa.
212
Family: COCHLOSPERMACEAE
Botanical name: Cochlospermum planchoni Hook. f.
Description: A low shrubby savanna plant, up to 2.5 m high,
that reproduces from seeds and rhizomes. The stem is sott-

wooded, brownish and leafy, especially wh^ not in bloom. The
leaves are alternate and pahnately-lobed. The lobes are broadly-
oblong or rounded, about 7 cm long and 9 cm wide, densely
wooly on the lower surface, prominently nerved and with
petioles up to 3 cm long. The inflorescence consists of bright
yellow flowers borne in racemes at the apex ot leaty shoots. The
flowers are up to 5 cm across, bright yellow in colour and
appear towards the end of the rainy season.
Habitat: A common weed of cultivated fields in hbdh Guinea and

Sudan savanna zones.
214
Family: COMBRETACEAE
Botanical name: Combretum hispidum Laws.
Description: A climbing (scandent) shrub of the forest with

trailing branches, it reproduces from seeds and vegetatively from
basal stumps. The stem is cylindrical, woody and covered with
short bristly hairs, tipped with brownish glands. The leaves are
opposite, oblong, ell^tic, 10-25 cm long and 5-11 cm wide.
They are covered with brown gland-tipped haurs that are pink
when young. The inflorescence is a large spike-like raceme with
sticky hairs, up to 20 cm long. The flowers are bright pink,
small and numerous. The fruit is 5-winged.
Habitat: A common climbmg weed of both forest and savanna

cultivation. It regrows readily after forest and grass fires.
216
Oopy iiytilOG
Family: CQMBRETACEAE
Botanical name: Combretum racemosum P. Beauv.
Description: A climbing shrub that reproduces from seeds and

basal shoot re-growth. The stem is round, twining and covered
with long, weak haurs. The leaves are opposite, elliptic to ovate,
acute at apex, pubescent especially on the nerves, 5-10 cm long
and 3-5 cm wide. The inflorescence is a densely-flowered spike
with flowers in large panicles, subtended by white leaf-like
bracts. The flowers are daik red, with hairy flower tubes. The
fruit is 4-wuiged.
Habitat: A weed of forest regions, troublesome in maize,

cassava and no-till cultivation.
218
Copyrighted
laterial
FamUy: COMBRETACEAE
Botanical name: Combrettan zeiAai Eqgl. & Diels
Description: A climbing shrub that reproduces from seeds. The
young leaves have a characteristic pink colour. The stem is
cylindrical woody and covered with short, soft hairs. The leaves
are opposite, short petioled, oblong-elliptic, acute to obtuse at
apex, 8-15 cm long and 4-7 cm wide and prominently nerved.
The upper sur^Ke covered with dense, short, brown hairs,
is
especially along the nerves. The Inffkireseence consists of

clusters of flowers that are globular, up to 1 cm in diameter and
subtended by white leaf-like bracts. The flower petals are cream
coloured. The fruit is 5-winged, about 1.2 cm long and ends
abruptly in a tine tip.
Habitat: It is a common weed of ))otfa forest and savanna
cultivation and is as abundant as C

hispidumdndC racemostm.
220
laterial
Family: CONNARACEAE
Botanical name: Cnestisferruginea DC
Description: An erect sometimes scrambling shrub that is
densely covered with short, soft hairs. The plant grows to a

height of 2-5 m and reproduces by seeds. The stem is woody,
hard, cylindrical and covered with short soft hairs. The leaves
are pinnate with 4-6 pairs of leaflets, (occasionally more), 5-7
cm long and 2 cm wide, oblong-ellqrtic, rounded at the base,
acute or obtuse at the apex, with short soft haks especially along
the midrib. The inflorescence consists of short clusters of
flowers at the terminal or upper axils of leaves, appearing after
the leaves. The flowers are white and fragrant and the fruits are
conspicuously velvety red with arils. The seed is black.
Habitat: A common weed of cultivated fields in the open fbfest

clearings or bush fdlows.
222
material
Botanical name: Evc^wbis alsitiMes QAm.) Linn.
Description: A tutted, hairy annual herb up to about 30 cm high

that has spreading stems that branch from the base. Reproduction
is by seeds. The stem is slender and weak but woody at the base
and very hairy. The leaves are alternate, oblanoeolate, rather
small, about 2.0 cm long and 0.9 cm wide. They are hairy and
have no stalks. The inflorescence consists of solitary or paired
flowers occurring in leaf aidls. The fiowm are small, about 6.5
mm long. They are hairy, with blue petals and stalks about 2.5
cm long. The fruits are round capsules, 2.5 mm in diameter and
contain four small, shiny seeds.
Habitat: A weed of cultivated crops in the savanna ecdogical

zone.
224
Family: CONVOLVULACEA£
Botanical name: Hewittia sublobata Linn.
Description: A softly hairy, herbaceous twiner with prostrate

stems that reproducesfrom seeds. The stem is slender,
cylindrical and hairy. The team are ovate to triangular-ovate,
up to 12 cm long and 9 on wide; lieart-shiQ>ed at the base and
mucronate at the apex. The petioles are 2.5-3 cm long and hairy
on the nerves. The Inflorescence is an axillary cyme with few
flowers on a peduncle that is 2.5-4 cm long. The flowers are
yellow with a purple centre, and are subtended by green, oval
sh2Qied» leafy bracts. The corolla is densely brown and hairy
before the flower opens. The fruit is an ovoid or subglobose
capsule.
Habitat: A common weed of cultivated crops, bush regrowths

and forest clearings.
226
Botanical name: Ipomoea asarffoUa (Desr.) Roem. &
Sdiult.(»/. rqmns Lam.)
Description: A hairless succulent perennial, trailing on the

ground usually several meters long; it reproduces from seeds and
stem shoots. The stem is solid near the base but hollow nearer
the top of the plant. It hasfme longitudinal lines, without hairs
or only sparingly hairy. The leaTes are alternate, suborbicular,
10-12 cm in diameter, bluni at the iq>ex «id heart-shaped at the
base. The margins are entire, the blade thick, borne on long
petioles about 15 cm long, smooth with nerves radiating from the
base. The inflorescence is a cyme and flowers are both axillary
and terminal. The corolla of the flowers are large, purple or pale
reddish-purple. The fruit is globose and the seeds are slightly
hairy.
HabHat: A commmi weed of hydromorphic soils, low-lying and

inland valleys, streams and river banks.
228
laterial
Family: CONVOLVULACBAfi
Botanical name: Ipomoea eriocarpa R. Br.
Description: An annual twiner with slender stems, that

rq>roduce8 from seeds. The stem is cylindrical, slender and
sliiîtly hairy. The leaToi aie atteniafee with petioles 1 -6 cm long
variable, from ovateângolar to lanceolate, up to 8 cm long
and 5 cm wide. The leaf apex ends abruptly in a short stiff point,
while the base is heart-shaped. The nerves (veins) are hairy. The
inflorescence is a sub-sessile or sessile, solitary, or paired-
flowered, axiUary cyme. The flowers are white, 1.0-1.5 cm
large. The fruits are ovoid capsules that are poinled and hairy.*
Habitat: A widespread weed of cultivated land often climbing on

economic crq)s.
230
231
Family; CONVOLVULACEAE.
Botanical name: Ipomoea imffducrata P. Beanv.
Common name: moming glory weed
Description: An annual or pereoniai twiner with liairy stems

rooting at the nodes, tiiatrquroduoes from bolli seeds and stock.
The stem is slender, rather tough, widi short soft or long hairs
and it dUier trails or cfimbs on other plants. The leaves are
alternate, ovate, 7 cm long and 5 cm wide, heart-shaped at the
base, blunt to acuminate-mucronate at the apex, hairy and with
entire margins. The petiole is 2-5 cm long. The inflorescence is
an axillary cyme on a long peduncle, 10-12 cm long. The buds
are packed in the involucre and the flowers open one after the
other. The floiwers are purplish, truinpet-shêd, and are
subtended by a large, boat-shaped, long and hairy Involucre.
Habitat: A very common weed of cultivated fields, waste areas

and roadsides. Widespread in West Africa. A species of this
plant with pale yellowish-white flowers instead of purple was
found growing in the humid forest region, sometimes side by
side with the purple flowered qiedes.
232
Col ,
I
.:hi .;od
Botanical name: Ipomoea mauritiana Jacq.
Dcflcriplion: A tough pefemiial climber or Iwin^

stems rising from large tuberous roots, that reproduces from
seeds and underground tubers. The stem is hollow, robust,
hairless or sparingly hairy. The leaves are palmately divided, up
to 7 lobes, about 10 cm on a long common petiole. The
long,
lobes are ovate-lanceolate, and without hairs. The
entire
inflorescente is a cyme borne on a long flower stalk (peduncle)
with rose-red flowers about 6 cm wide» crowded at the tip of the
axillary peduncle. The fruit is a ddiiscent cûk.
Habitat: A common weed of cultivated crops and bush fallow in

the humid forest zone.
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FamUy: CONVOLVULAC£AE
Botanical name: Ipomoea triloba Linn. (=/. webbii Coutinho)
Description: A hairless annual, twining or often trailing on the

ground that reproduces trom seeds. The stem is slender ^ many-
branched and without haks. The leaves are siinple, aUonale,
variable, broadly-ovate to ovate on long slender petioles. The
leaves are sometimes lobed, blunt-ended at the apex, heart-
shaped at the base, with entire margins and smooth blades. The
inflorescence is an axillary cyme on a long inflorescence stalk
about 6 cm long. The flowers have a pinkish corolla with a
purple corolla tube.
Habitat: A common weed of cultivation, roadsides and

homesteads. Probably introduced as an ornamental but has now
become a widespread weed.
236
PamUy: CONVOLVULAC£A£
Botanical name: Ipomoea varans Bak.
Description: An annual climber with a trailing stem, woody at

the base that reproduces from seeds. The stem is ^lindrical,
pale in colour with l^xg soft hairs. The leaves are aheroate,
ovate-elliptic or fiddle-shaped (pandurate), broadly heart-shaped
at the base, obtuse at the leaf apex and slightly hairy. The length
of the petiole varies from 0.5 cm to 2 cm. The inflorescence
consists of an axillary cluster of tlowers but solitary tlower-heads
are also present. The corolla is white, bell-shaped and 9-10 mm
across. The fruits are ovoid capsules, with coarse, stiff hairs.
The seeds are 4 mm long and 2.5 nun wide.
Habitat: A weed of cultivated fields in the arid regions of West
Atrica.
238
239
Botanical name: MerrmiaaegyptiaQjoa.) Urban
ff
Desorifitimi: A robust, amnial twiner diat lefyrodnoes by seeds.

The stem is tough, free-twining and has stiff brown hairs. The
leaves are alternate, deeply palmately-lobed with obovate
segments 8 cm long and 4 cm wide, acutely acuminate and with
dense, hairy petioles that are up to 4 cm long. The inflorescence
is an axillary raceme with a haky peduncle about 4 cm long. The
flowers are white, funnel-shaped, about 2.5 cm loiig with
persistent, oval shaped calyx segments that enlarge as the flowers
mature. The buds are covered with- long, yellowish-brown hairs.
Tlie fruits are irregular deliiscent capsules.
Habitat: A common weed of cultivated crops, roadsides and

bush regrowths.
240
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241
FamUy: CRASSULAC£A£
Botankai name: Bryophylhm pmnatum (Lam.) Okm
Common name: resurrection plant, canterbury bells, air plant
Description: An erect, succulent perennial shrub about 60-

120 cm high that can rqirodoce from seeds and also vêtatively
from leaf-bulbils. The stem is thick and fleshy. It branches from
the base and is often ribbed. The leaves are opposite, fleshy,
greenish-purple, simple or trifoliate; obovate, about 10 cm long
and 5-^ cm wide, smooth, coarsely crenate margins where
at the
often there are bulbils. The inflorescence is made up of drooping
flowers in loose panicles at tlie tenninal of the stem. The flowers
are radiar showy, and have 4-lobed corolla tubes that are
reddish-purple at tiie top, and 4-lobed inflated calyx tubes that
are greenish yellow and purplish at the base.
Habitat: An introduced ornamental plant that is now naturalized

and growing as a weed of plantation crops and farm settlemîts
in many parts of West Africa.
FamUy: CUCURBITACfiAE
Botanical name: Luffa cylindrica (Linn.) M.J. Roem. (=Luffa
aegyptiaca Mill.)
Common name: looM, loofah gourd
Description: An annual herb, rough to the touch, climbing by

means of branched tendrils; it reproduces from seeds. The stem
is stout, angled, prostrate or often climbing, either without hairs
or slightly hairy. The leaves are alternate and digitately-lobed.
The lobes are finely toothed (dendculate), acute and acununate.
The petiole to 10 cm long, widi soft dense hahs. The
is up
inflorescence an axillary cyme on a long stalk. The flowers
is
have yellow corolla. The male and female tlowers occur

separately on the same plant. The female tlower bears a long,
hairy ovary below the sepals. This ovary later elongates and
developes into the fruit. The fruit is cylindrical, long (15-50 cm
long), smooth, with a fibrous endocarp that contains many flat
seeds.
Habitat: The loofah was formerly cultivated in parts of West

Africa for spongy endocarp, which had commercial value, but
its
is now widespread as a weed of cultivated crops and waste areas

near homesteads.
244
Col I
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245
Family: CUCURBITACEAE
Botanical name: Momordica charantia Linn.
Common name: balsam pear, African cucumber
. Description: A prostrate hairy perennial herb with long simple

hairs, climbing by means of tendrils, that reproduces from seeds.
The stem is angled, more or less hollow and with minute hairs.
The leaves are alternate up to 5 cm long, with a spiral tendril at
opposite sides. They are unevenly lobed and the lobes are more
or less notched. The petioles are 4-5 cm long, short and
pubescent (minutely hairy) and produce an offensive smell when
crushed. The infloresGeiice consists of solitary flowers in the leaf
axils. The flower consists of male and female flowers <m the
same plant; the male flower is subtended by a conspicuous bract
on the peduncle. The corolla is bright yellow and measures about
2.5 cm across. The fruit is a warty gourd, usually with
longitudinal furrows, orange-yellow when ripe, up to 15 cm
long, splitting to expose the seeds that are red and about 2 mm
across.
Habitat: A weed of cultivated fields, bush regrowths and waste

areas.
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laterial
Family: CUSCUTACEAE
Botanical name: Cuscuta amtralis R. Br.
Common name: dodder
Description: A leafless, parasitic annual with slender stems

twining on host plants, that reproduces both from seeds and
vegetatively by pieces of the stem. It resembles Cassytha in
appearance but its stems are much more delicate and appear to
contain no chlorophyll. The stem is yellow, thread-like, smooth,
many-branched and absorbs food from the host by means of
suckers (haustoria). Leaves are absent. The inflorescence
consists of sessile flowers borne in clusters on the stem. The
flowers are white, bell-shaped, small, about 1 .5 mm in diameter.
The corolla-tube does not extend to the base of the filaments and
the corolla-lobes are wide, rounded and erect. The fruits are
small, round capsules (about 3 mm in diameter) each containing
an average of four small dark reddish-brown seeds.
Habitat: A common parasitic weed of both wild and cultivated

tropical plants such as garden croton (Codiaeum spp.), Acalypha
spp., Ocimum basilicum L. etc. Like other parasitic weeds,
dodder is difflcult to control in smallholder agriculture. It is
reported to use many weeds, e.g., Commelina spp. as alternate

hosts.
Other related species: Cuscuta campestris Yuncker. A parasitic

weed similar in appearance to C. australis but which can be
distinguished from the latter by the following features:
i. scale in the corolla-tube usually reaches the base of the

filament
ii. corolla-lobes are broadly triangular and spreading
248
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FamUjr: EUPH0RB1AC£A£
Botanical name: Acalypha fimbriata Schum. 6i Ihonn. (=
Acalypfia ciliata Forsk.)
Common mmie: copper-leaf plant
Description: An up to 70 cm
erect, softly hairy annual herb
high, that reproduces from seeds. The stem is woody at the

base, low branching and hairy. The leaves are simple and
alternate, ovate, 4-10 cm long and 2-5' cm wide on slender leaf
stalks 3-8 cm long, serrate at die margin, acmninate at the apex,
fairly rough and with about five veins originating from the base.
The inflorescence is an axillary spike rather shorter than the leaf
stalks. The flowers are greenish and small. The male tlowers are
above the temale ones in the same intlorescence with the female
flowers, enclosed in folded, ciliate spathes. The fruit is a 3-
chambered c^sule. Each chamber contains a single, brown seed.
Habitat: A common weed of cultivated arops in West Africa.
250
}
Family: EUPHORBIACEAE
Botanical name: Alchomea cordifoUa (Schum. & Thonn.) Mull.
Arg.
Common name: Christmas bush
Description: An erect, sometimes scrambling, bushy perennial^

shrub or small tree up to 4 m high, that reproduces from seeds
and vegetatively from stem cuttings. The stem is woody,
greyish, many branched and bushy when young. The leaves are
simple and alternate, broadly-ovate 10-28 cm long and 6.5-16.5
cm wide. The leat blade is heart-shaped at the base, acuminate
at the apex, enture to sub-entire at the margin with long petioles.
The leaf is mostly smooch to the touch but often has a few glands
at the base. The inflorescence consists of axillary panicles. The
flowers are greenish white. The male flowers are on long spikes
8-36 cm long, while the female flowers are simple and on short
stalks. The fruit is a 3-chapibered capsule with red seeds.
Habitat: A common plant in secondary forest regrowths and a

weed of cultivated fields in the forest zone.
252
I
Botanical name; Alchornea kixiflora (Benth.) Pax & K. Hof&n.
Descrlptimi: An erect or straggling perennial shrub up to 3 m
high that rq>roduces from seeds. The stem is woody and erect
or straggling, bushy when young, with a brownish bark, without
hairs and occasionally with some corky spots on the bark
(lenticels). The leaves are simple, alternate, ovate to ovate-
elliptic, 8-15 cm long and 3-10 cm wide, acuminate at the apices
and on petioles up to 3-4 cm long. The leaf margin is
that are
either crenate or subentlre. The surfiace is smooth and has
prominent nerves that bear some long white to brown hairs on
the under surface. The inflorescence is an axillary spike 4-10 cm
long. The flowers are dioecious; the male tlowers are in brown,
scaly buds on older shoots and appear before the leaves, while
fenuile spikes appear on young shoots. The fruits are 3-
chambered capsules about 8 mm long.
Habitat: A very common perennial woody weed of forest

regrowth vegetation, abundant in old settlement areas.
254
255
Family: £UPHORBIAC£AE
Botanical name: Croton hirtus L*Herit
Description: An erect, branched hirsute herb that grows to a

height of about 90 cm. The stem is covered with stellate hairs.
The leaves are also hairy and have serrated margins.
Habitat: An introduced plant that is now widespread in the

Guinea savanna zone of West Africa, particularly in Sierra
Leone and Cote d'lvoire. It is a weed of cultivated fields, bush
regrowths and roadsides.
256
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Family: £UPH0RB1ACEAE
Botanical name: Croton lobatus L.
Description: An erect, leafy annual herb, 50-90 cm high, that

reproduces from seeds. The stem is erect, woody at the base,
branched and hau7. The leaves are alternate and palmately-
lobed. The leaf segments are lanceolate to obovate, heart-shaped
at the base and acuminate at the apex. The inflorescence consists
of both axillary and terminal racemes 'with spikes up to 15 cm
long. The upper part of the spikes bears the male tlowers, while
the lower part bears the female flowers. The fruit is a hairy, 3-
celled capsule up tp 6 mm wide. The seeds are three in number
and oblong, in a capsule.
Habitat: A common pan-tropical weed of cultivated tlelds and

wasteland.
258
FamUy: £UPUORBIAC£AE
Botanical name: Euphorbia heterophylta Linn.
Common name: spurge weed, wild poinsettia
Description: An erect fast growing annual herb tbat grows iBftK^

90 cm high. It exudes a white latex when cut and leptoist^ts
itself from seeds. The stem is hollow, rounded and smooth. The
leaves are alternate, variable in shape, oblong-lanceolate to
ovate, 6-15 cm long and 4-7 cm wide, acute at the apex, wec^-;
shaptd at the base and subtended on petioles that are 1-2 cm
long. The smooth with wavy or toothed margins.
leaf blade is
The Inflorescence consists of terminal cymes with clusters of
greenish subsessile flowers, subtended by leafy bracts. The fruit
is a 3-chambered capsule that splits along the midrib when ripe.
The seeds are dark brown to black in colour.
Habitat: A common weed of cultivated fields in the forest and

savanna zones throughout West Africa. It is a serious problem
in cowpea and soybean cultivation because it is more competitive
than these crops for growth resources.
260
261
material
Family: EUPHORBIACHAE
Botanical name: Euphorbia hina Linn.
Common name: Australian asthma plant, garden spurge,
snakeweed
Description: A iiairy, annual herb with spreading or ascending

branches up to 50 cm high, that reproduces from seeds. The
stems are semi-erect from a woody t^ root. They are covered
with purplish-brown hairs and exude a white latoc when cut. The
leaves are opposite, narrowly ovate in shape, 1-3 cm long and
1-1.5 cm wide, asymmetrical, acute at the apex, rather finely
toothed and hairy on the surface. The inflorescence is in dense
axillary heads, about 10 mm wide. The flowers are small,
pinkish, many and without petals. The fhiH is a 3-chambered
c^sule 1 mm long with 3 small reddish brown seeds.
Habitat: A pan-tropical weed of arable fields, waste areas,
gardens and roadsides.
262
laterial
Botanical name: Euphorbia hysscpifoUa Um,
Description: An erect, many-branched annual herb up to 40 cm
high, that reproduces from seeds. It exudes a white latex when
cut.The stem is erect or sometimes sprawling, reddish, smooth,

rounded and jointed. The internodes are up to 5 cm apart. The
leaves are simple and opposite, ovate-elliptic, variable in size, 1-
3 cm long,and up to 1.0 cm wide, asymmetrical, sessile to sub-
sessile, themargins finely serrated, acute at the apex and smooth
on the surface. The Inflorescence is a dichotomously branched,
terminal or sub-terminal raceme, usually leafy and with small
tlowers that have no petals. The fruit is a 3-lobed capsule that
contains tiiree small, black and wrinkled seeds.
Habitat: A common weed of cultivated fields but also present in

lawns, gardens and roadsides. It is probably an introduced plant
in West Africa.
264
Botanical name: Mallotus oppositifolius (Geisel) Mull. Arg.
Description: An erect, branciiing perennial shrub up to 3 ni

high, that reproduces from seeds. The stem is erect, hard-
wooded, low-branching and covered with white star-like hairs.
The leaves are opposite, one of each pair always smaller than the
other, broadly-ovate, 15 cm long and 7.5 cm wide; round to
heart-shaped at the base with margins that have saw-teeth,
acuminate at the tip, distinctly 3-nerved from the base, always
with glandular spots underneath and with petioles up to 5 cm
long. The inflorescence is an axillary raceme on a slender spike
5-10 cm long. The male and female flowers are in the same
inflorescence. The flowers are cream or white in colour. The
fruit is a 3-chambered capsule covered with glandular scales and
splitting alongtlie midrib when dry.
Habitat: A common shrubby weed in forest rîowtbs, no-

tillage systems and around settlements and cultivated fields in the
forest region.
266
Co(.j I
y ;od material
^
aterial
FamUy: EUPHORBIACEAE
Botanical name: Manniophyton fidvum Mull. Arg.
Description: A forest vine, rough to the touch and with brown

stellate hairs, that reproduces from seeds. The stem is trailing,
cylindrical, dark brown and very rough to tiie touch and abrasive
to the skin. The leaves are alternate, variable in shape, ovate to
broadly-ovate, entire or 2- or 3 -lobed, up to 25 cm long,
acuminate at the apex, heart-shaped at the base and hairy on both
surfaces. The petiole is up to 5 cm long, rough to the touch and
hairy on the nerves. The inflorescence is a slender, axillary
panicle up to 25 cm long. The flowers are yellow, small and in
clusters. The fruit is a 3-lobed capsule 2.5 cm wide and covered
with dense rusty brown hairs.
Habitat: A weed of newly, cleared forest and forest regrowths.

The plant causes itching, and eventually sores on the human skin
if it comes in contact with it.
268
" aterial
FamU^: EUPUORBIACEAE
Botanical name: PhÛanihus amarus Sdnim. & Thonn.
Description: An annual many branched, erect herb up to 80 cm
high. It has numerous small leaves on lateral branches of the
stem that give the plant the appearance of having pinnate leaves
up to 70 cm high. It The stem is
reproduces from seeds.
rounded, woody at the base, horizontally branched, smooth and
greenish. The leaves are alternate, elliptic-oblong, 5-10 mm long
and 3-4 mm wide, pale beneath and with short petioles. The
inflorescence is axillary and consists of one male flower and one
female flower in each axil. The flowers are greenish and rather
small, up to 1 mm in diameter. The fruit a round capsule,
.5 is
brownish, 1.5-2 mm wide and occurs in leaf axils on the lower

side of the lateral branches. Each cq^sule contahis six small
seeds.
Habitat: A common weed of cultivated fields which is very

270
material
Family: HIPPOCRATBACBAE
Botanical name: Reissantia indica ( Willd.) Hall6
{^Hippocratea indica WilldJ
Description: A forest perennial climber widiout liairs (glabrous)

and that reproduces from seeds. Ths stem is woody, angled,
bushy and dichotomously branched, the branches are somewhat
ascending and glabrous. The leaves are opposite, variable, ovate
to broadly-ovate, or ovate-lanceolate, 3-12.5 cm long and 1-6 cm
wide, finely serrate, acuminate, wedge-shaped to rounded at the
base, subsessile, glabrous, greoush but turns brown when dried,

usually with inconspicuous venation. The inflorescence is a
cyme borne on a peduncle. The flowers are many, small,
greenish or pale yellow in colour. The fruit is a capsule with
dehiscent mericarps and winged seeds.
Habitat: Ttiis 'perennial weed is common in bush fallows and

troublesome in no-tillage crop production systems.
272
laterial
Family: ICACINACEAE
Botanical luiiiie: Icacina trichantha Otiv.
Description: A perennial when young but turns into

shrub, erect
a climbing shrub in bush regrowths. The stem is straggling,
semi-woody, round in cross-section, has soft brown hairs and
arises from an underground tuber that also has soft brown hairs.
The leaves are simple and alternate, broadly-elliptic, 10-25 cm
long and 8-17 cm wide, abruptly acuminate at the apex, rounded
at the base and sparingly hairy on the undersurface and along the
main nerves. The petiole is up to1 cm long. The inflorescence
is a densely clustered, axillary cyme with creamy-white flowers.

The fruits are slightly hairy, up to 2.5 cm long and velvet-red
when ripe. The plant reproduces both from seeds and from tuber
sprouts.
Habitat: A common weed of field crops, forest regrowths and

waste areas. It is locally abundant in Nigeria.
274
275
^
aterial
Family: LAMIACEAE
Botanical name: Hyptis UmceoUUa Poir.
Description: An erect, aromatic herb up to about 60 cm high,

that reproduces from seeds. The stem is 4-angled in cross-
section, often many-branched and is sparsely covered with soft,
short hairs. The leaves are cm
opposite, lanceolate, about 7.5
long and 2.5 cm wide, aie toothed at the margins, wedge-shaped
at the base and have very short petioles usually only about 0.5
cm long. The lower surface is glandular, dotted and may be
smooth or slightly hairy. The inflorescence is made up of
several axillary flowers in a globose head about 1.25 cm across.
The flowers are very small and have hairy and ciliate calyx and
white petals with pale purple marks on the top.
Habitat: A weed of datap areas m open regrowths. It is
widespread in West Africa from Senâl to the Cameroons.
276
Family: LAMIAC£A£
Botanical name: Hyptis spicigera Lam.
Common name: black sesame, guardian of mosquitoes
Description: A strongly aromatic rather scabrid annual herb

growing to about 3 m high which reproduces profusely from
seeds. The stem is erect, angled and branched. The leaves are
opposite, lanceolate, about 8 cm long, 2-3 cm wide, acute and
serrate. Hie undersurface is dotted with close pellucid glands.
The inflorescence is a dense, sub-cylindrical spike, 8-10 cm long
at the terminal part of the branches. The flowers have a white
corolla witii purple dots on tiie lower lip. The imit is a small
capsule, and the seeds are small and black.
Habitat: A widespread weed in the Guinea-savanna zone. It
occurs in moist soils in bush fallows and by the roadside. It is
cultivated as a food flavouring agent and also used locally as an

insect repellant for protecting cowpea seeds and other grains
during storage.
278
Copyrighted inateiial
laterial
Family: LAMIACEAE
Botanicial name: Hyptis suaveolens Poit.
Common name; bush tea, wild spikenard
Description: An erect, strongly aromatic annual herb, up to 1.5

cm high, that reproducesfrom seeds. The stem is woody,
angled, many-branched, leaty, greyish, hauy and has glandular
dots. The leaves are opposite, variable, ovate to broadly-ovate,
4-5 cm long and 4 cm wide, rounded at the base with petioles 1
cm long. The leaf blade is acute at the apex, serrated with

minute teeth at the margins. The leaf is densely covered with
short soft hairs beneath and along the main nerves and petioles.
The inflorescence is a lax, few-flowered cyme in the upper axils
of the leaves. The flowers are blue, about 8 long and are mm
subtended by strongly ribbed calyx with long weak hairs that
increase in size when die plant is in fruit.
Habitat: A common weed of cultivated crops, roadsides and

waste grounds. It is very widespread.
280
Family: LAMIACEAE
Botanical name: Leonotis nepetifolia (L.) Ait. f.
Common name: lion's ear, lion's tail
Description: It is an erect branctied annual weed up to 1 .5 m

that reproduces from seeds. The stem is square in cross-section,
stiff and branched at the basal portion. The leaves are paired and
simple, obovate with coarsely toothed blades on long petioles.
The flower leaves are wide and up to 5 cm at the widest part.
The upper leaves are also m pairs and are narrow with more or
less entire margins that lock like bracts. The flowers appear in
whorls in the axils of these upper leaves. They are in dense
circular masses up to 7 cm across. Each mass of flowers is
separated from the other by long internodes. The corolla is
orange in colour, curved and tubular. The calyx bears five long
and pointed teeth of unequal length that protect the inflorescence
from browsmg anunals. The fhiit contains four nutlets.
Habitat: A weed of field crops in both the forest and savanna

vegetation zones.
282
Family: LAMIACEAE
Botanical name: Leucas ntartinicensis (Jacq.) Ait.f.
Common name: wild tea bush
Description: An erect aromatic annual herb, 40-50 cm high, that

reproduces from seeds. The stem is angled, many branched and
pjibescent. The leam are opposite, ovate to ovate-elliptic, 8-10
cm long, 2-4 cm wide, blunt at the apex, coarsely toothed,
pubescent and glandular punctate beneath. The faiflorescenee
consists of small, numerous bracteate flowers in dense whorls at
the upper nodes. The corolla is white. The seeds are small, black
shiny nutlets that are oblong in shape.
Habitat: A pan-tropical weed of disturbed habitats, such as

cultivated fields and roadsides. It is widespread m West Africa.
284
laterial
I
Family: LAMIACEAE
Botanical name: PUuostoma (tfricanum P. Beauv.
Descripdon: An erect, branched, annual herb with weak slender

branches up to 60 cm high, that icpioduces from seeds. The
stem is square-sectioned, pale greenish and glabrous or slightly
hairy. The leaves are opposite, variable in size from 2-5 cm long
to 2-4 cm wide. They are ovate, acute or abruptly acuminate.
The leaf margins are serrated at the upper portion, entire and
wedge-shaped at the base and terminate into petioles that arc 2-4
cm loqg. The infloracenoe is a terminal or axillary, many-
flowered raceme up to IS cm loiig. The flowen are small, white
with purple spots, about 1.0 cm long usually with persistent
bracts.
Habitat: A common weed of cultivated fields, found in duaap

places and by roadsides.
286
Family: LAMIACEAE
Botanical name: Solenostemon monostachyus (P. Beauv.) Brig.
subsp. monostachyus
Description: An erect, annual herb with branched, succulent

stems up to 90 cm high that reproduces from seeds. The stem is
fleshy, acutely angled (square sectioned), pale greenish and
hau7. The leaves are q>posite, broadly-ovate; about 10 cm long
and 8 cm wide, obtuse at the apex, sharply wedged-shaped to the
base with petioles 2-4 cm long; the margins coarsely crenate,
hairy both above and on the nerves beneath. The inflorescence
is a dense, terminal spike about 5-10 cm long that elongates to
about 40 cm when in fruit. The flowers are pale violet, rather

small and 5-10 mm long.
Habitat: A common weed of cultivated crops, bush lands and
roadsides. It has a preference for moist habitats.
288
289
" aterial
Famiiy: LAURACEAE
Botanical name: Cassytha filiformis Una.
Description: A leatless perennial with wiry green stems. It is a

semi-parasite during the early stages of its life. The hosts range
from wild to cultivated plants. It adheres to the host plants by
means of haustoria, and reproduces from seeds. The stem is
slender, greenish, soft, hairy and twining. Leaves are either
absent or reduced to minute scales. The inflorescence consists
of loosely arranged spikes clustered from the stems. The flowers
are small, white and often with rusty brown hairs. The fruits are
round, 4-6 mm in diameter, soft and whitish when young and
with the perianths limb persisting at the top.
Habitat: Often found on top of economic trees such as casliew

(Anacardium occMentale) ml citrus. In bush fallows, it uses
grasses and woody plant species as alternate hosts. It is widely
distributed throughout West Africa.
290
Family: LEGUMINOSAE: CAESALPINIOIDEAE
Botanical name: Anthonotha ntacrophylla P. Beauv.
Description: A forest understorey shrub or small tree, 5-12 m

high, that reprcxiuces from seeds. The plant seeds profusely and
sprouts easily from the base of coppice shoots. It is this regrowth
that constitutes a weed in no-tillage cropping systems. The
woody stem bases also present a problem to ploughing and
harrowing in a conventional tillage system. The stem is soft-
wooded, greyish and flaky, generally low branching with
spreading and straggling branchlets, hairless or sparingly hairy.
It is an important staking material for yams and also a source of
firewood. The leaves are compound pinnate, about 20 cm long
with 3 pairs ut leaflets that are elliptic or broadly-elliptic, 10-20
cm long and 8-12 cm wide, acuminate, entire, very softly-hairy
and silvery on the lower surface, and rather glossy and papery
on the upper surface. The inflorescence is a spreading, racemose
panicle about 30 cm long, laxily-flowered, and densely hairy
with brown hairs. The flower is white, later turning yellow. The
fruits are tlat pods about 15-25 cm long and 4-6 cm wide,
irregularly and roughly ridged along the thick margins, usually
brownish with velvet hairs that soon drop otf Each pod contains.
4-8 seeds.
Habitat: The plant is common in secondary forests and bush

regrowths in the rain forest zones.
292
" aterial
FamUy: LEGUMINOSAE: CAESALPINIOIDEAE
Botanical name: Chamaecrista ndmosoides (L.) Greene
( = Cassia mimosoides L.
Common name: Japanese tea, tea senna
Description: An erect, sometimes diffuse, annual or perennial

shrub up to 90 cm high, that reproduces from seeds. The stem
is woody at the base, hairless or minutely hairy. The
pithy,
leaves arecompound and alternate, about 10 cm long and 1.5 cm
wide. The petiole always bears a gland below the bottom pair of
leaflets. These leaflets are small, asymmetric and blunt at the
apex. They are numerous, up to 70 pairs per leaf. The
inflorescence is solitary and axillary with 1-3 flowers in an axil
on slender pedicels about 1 cm long. The flowers are yellow and

few. The fruit is a flat, pubescent pod, about 6 cm long and 5
mm wide with about 12-24 seeds.
Habitat: A weed of the savanna zone. It is common in arable

lands, waste areas, roadsides and bush fallows throughout West
Africa.
294
Copyrighted inatenal
Family: LBGUMINOSAB: CAESALFINIOIDEAB
Botanical name: Daniellia oliveri (Rolfe) Hutch. & Dalz.
Conunoii name: African copaiba balsam, Uorin balsam
Description: A deciduous savanna tree up to 30 m high, that

reproduces from seeds, which often produces an extensive stretch
of weed^ shrublets in its early stages. It seeds freely and
produces many young, bushy shoots that are hard to control in
a no-tillage system. The ston is low-bnuaching and bushy at the
base when a shrub, but becomes twisted, rough and fissured
when the plant grows into a tree. The leaves are compound and
pinnate, always reddish in flush and turn green on maturity.
Each leaf has 4-1 1 paired leaflets, each of which is ovate, shortly
acuminate, asymmetric, shortly petiolulate, glabrous or slightly
pubescent on the nerves. The inflorescence is a terminal,
flattened panicle with white, fragrant flowers that appear when
the tree is leafless. The fndt is a smooth, flat, 1-seeded pod,
about 8 cm long, 5 cm wide and it is dehiscent.
Habitat: A common plant in the savanna zone easily recognized

by its showy reddish flush of leaves at the onset of raîs and also
at the time of first weeding.
296
FamUy: LEGUMINOSA£: CAESALPINIOIDEAE
Botanical name: Dialium guineense Wilid.
CommiNi name: black velvet tamarind
De8cri|ition; A small tree that grows to about 10 m high in the

rainforest zone, but shrubby in the savanna vegetation zone. It
normally reproduces by seeds but vegetative regrowth from basal

Stumps is common in cultivated fields. The stem is straight,
greyish and smooth and usually has spreading leafy branchlets.
The leaves are confound, iniparq[)innate, 5-12 cm long. There
are five leaflets and the terminal one is always the largest. The
leaflets are opposite or sub-opposite, elliptic to broadly-elliptic,
3-12 cm long and 1.5-5 cm wide, symmetrical, shortly
acuminate, rounded at the base and feebly hairy. The
inflorescence a large, terminal or axillary panicle up to 30 cm
is
long, rather flat with brown haurs. The flowers are copious,
white or pinkish. The fhiHs are many, round, flattish and velvet-
black, about 2 cm in diameter; they have 1 or 2 brownish seeds
embedded in a brown, dry, sweetly acid pulp that is edible.
Habitat: This is a common plant in the forest and forest/savanna

transition (derived savanna) zones. It is a weed when it is in its
shrubby stage. This is the stage when its hard wood and free
sprouting nature make both cultivation and fellow vegetation
management difficult.
298
material
Family: LEGUMINOSAE-CAESALPINIOIDEAE
Botanical name: Isoberlina doka Craib & Stapf
Description: A plant that is a troublesome weed during the early
stages of its growth cycle. At these early stages of growth, this
plant is bushy, shrubby and a serious weed in arable crops,
especially those grown in no-tillage systems. It reproduces from
seeds. The stem is rough, scaly, and its hard wood has a
tendency to coppice profusely when it is cut. The leaves are
compound, usually 3-paired and sub-opposite, but occasionally
there may be more leaflets that are alternate. The leaflets are
ovate or elliptic, not equally sided, about 20 cm loQg and 100
cm wide. They are reddish when in flush, but become âbrous
and shiny green on both surfaces when mature. The flower has
white petals that are subtended by a brown tomentellous calyx.
The fruits are flat, woody pods that are 10-20 cm long. These
pods dehisce and curl up, scattering the seeds.
Habitat: A serious weed of tiie Guinea savanna zone whose

frequency of occurrence increases from the southern Guinea
savanna to the Sudan savanna. It can be troublesome during land
clearing and during tillage operations.
300
Ccr
Family: LEOUMINOSAE: CAESALPINIOIDEAE
Botanical name: PUiostigmathonningU (Schum.) Milne-Redhead
Description: An erect shrub or small tree found in the savanna

of West Africa. Itgiowstoalieightof6mandiqiioduce8firom
seeds. The slon is woody with a twisted or crooked trunk; it is
rough, dark brown and hairy on the branchlets. The leaves are
simple, alternate 7.5-10 cm long and 10-18 cm wide. The blade
is indented at the base next to the petiole and has up to 15
ascending nerves, radiatiiig from the base. The nerves are
pubescent or slightly pubestent. The inflorescoice is comprised
of narrow panicles, 10-25 cm long, with dense brown haus. The

flowers are white, sweet scented and pendulous. The fhdt is a
hairy, hard, flattish pod that turns rusty brown; it is woody and
twisted when it splits at ripening, and usually persists on the
twig.
Habitat: A common plant in the Gumea savanna and a serious

weed when it is young and shrubby.
302 I
FamUy: LEGUMINOSAE: CAJESALPINIOIDEAE
Botanical name: Senna hirsuta (Linn.) Irwin & Barneby
(= Cassia hirsuta L.)
Coimnon name: stinkuig cassia
Description: An erect, hairy, perennial shrub up to 2.5 m high,

that reproduces from seeds. The stem is hairy, angular, ribbed
and woody towards the base. The leaves are bipinnate and
alternate. The pinnae are up to 25 cm long, with up to four pairs
of leaflets. The leaf shape is ovate or ovate-lanceolate, 5-10 cm
long and 2-4 cm wide, acute, asymmetric, with coarse hairs. It
produces an unpleasant smell when crushed. The faiflorescence
is a terminal raceme with few flowers. The flowers are orange-
yellow about 12 mm long on short 9 mm pedicels. The fruit is
a slender, more or less recurved pod about 10-15 cm long and

4.5mm wide which is densely hairy. The seeds are many, pale
brown, and angled. Each seed is about 2 nmi long.
Habitat: A weed of field crops, waste areas, roadsides and bush

regrt)wths.
304
Copyiigt
FamUy: LEGUMINOSAE; CAESALPINIOIDEAE
Botanical name: Senna' obtusffotia (L.) Irwin & Banieby
(^Cassia obtusifolia L.)
Description: An erect, branched, bushy annual or perennial up

to 90 cm high, that reproduces horn seeds. The stem is robust,
cylindrical, hairless or sparingly hairy. The leaves are alternate,
pinnate, 2.5-7.5 cm loi^g with petioles that are 2.5 cm loqg. The
rhachis always has one to two glands between the lowest pair of
leaflets. The leaflets consist of three pairs.Each leaflet is
obovate, 1.5-5 cm long and 1-3 cm wide, mucronate at the apex,
sessileand smooth. The inflorescence consists of one or two
flowers in the axils of the upper leaves. The flowers are yellow,
2-3cm across and borne on pedicels that are 1.5-3.5 cm long.
The finiits aire cylindrical pods that are 10-20 cm long and 5-
6 mm wide. They are curved and long-beaked, one or usually
two in an axil. The seeds are about 5 mm long and 2 mm wide,
somewhat rhomboid, brown and smooth.
Habitat: A pan-tropic weed of roadsides, grasslands and

cultivated fields, common near setdements, widespread in West
Africa.
306
Family: LEGUMINOSAE: CAESALPINIOIDEAE
Botanical name: Senna ocddentaUs (L.) Link (^Cassia
occidentalis Linn.)
Common name: ootiee senna
Description: An erect, hairless undersbnib, annual or biennial,

growing to about 100 cm high and that reproduces from seeds.
The stem is ribbed, woody below and loosely branching. The
leaves are compound, pinnate, alternate and 10-15 cm long. The
leaflets are 4-6 pairs, broadly-lanceolate, 2.5-7.5 cm long and 1-
2 cm wide. The upper pair of leaflets is always larger. The

inflorescence is an axillary raceme with yellow flowers. The
fruit is flat, slightly curved and green in colour. The pods are
smooth, 15 cm long and 6 mm wide with 20-30 brown, ovate
seeds that are about 3 nun across.
Habitat: A common weed in field crops, waste areas and

roadsides in West Atrica.
308
aterial
Botanical name: Albizia zygia (DC.) J. F. Macbr.
Description; A deckhioos tree up to 25 m high in forests.

Usually a shrubby weed in bush regrowths. The mature tree
reproduces from seeds. The stem is woody, erect and bushy with
a smooth, greyish bark. The leaves are opposite, bipinnate, 2-3
pairs on a common stalk 20 cm loqg. The leaflets are 2^4 paired
on a stalk 1 0 cm long. They are sessile, ot with very short stalks
and unequally sided, rather bhmt at the iq)ex. The lower pair is
always the smallest but increases in size to the top pair that may
be up to 5-8 cm long and 3-5 cm wide. They have prominent
midribs and both surfaces of the leaf blades are smooth. The
Inflorescence consists of flowers in globose heads arranged in
panicles 5cm long at the terminals of the shoots. The fkmara
have white petals and pink stamens and appear soon after the
new leaves have fhished out. The fruHs are glossy, have smooth
pods 5-10 cm long and i 4 cm wide, usually with 9-12 seeds.
Habitat: Common in secondary forest regrowths. It is a fast

growing plant that can pose a serious problem in no-till
agriculture.
310
Family: LEGUMINOSAE-MIMOSOIDEAE
Botanical name: Mimosa invisa Mart.
Common name: giant sensitive plant
Description: A prickly, semi-sensitive, perennial shrub that has

prostrate and spreading which usually form an
stems
impenetrable, tangled mass 1-2 m high, and that reproduces from
seeds. The stem is angular, climbing and is covered with
numerous, sharp, retlexed prickles. The leaves are mildly
sensitive, alternate, bipinnate, up to 10 cm long and on petioles
that are prickly. The main leat stalks have up to 8 pairs of sub-
leaf stalks and each sub-leaf stalk may bear as many as 20
opposite leaflets, that are small and sessile and are about 8-10
mm long. The Inflorescenoe is an axillary or terminal raceme
with flowers which appear in globose heads. The flowers are
pinkish, usually 2 in an axil and are about 10 in diameter. mm
The fruits are 3-4 seeded pods that are about 2 cm long and are
covered with numerous small, sharp prickles. The seeds are
hard, small, pale brown and smooth (upper photo).
Habitat: A problem weed of cassava, other long season crops,

and plantation agriculture. The weed also occurs in bush
regrowths and along the roadside. Probably introduced into West
Africa.
Other related species: Mimosa invisa var. inermis Adelb.

Similar to M. invisa but can be distinguished by the absence of
prickles on the stems, leaves and fruits. Possibly bred as a
pasture legume but now grows wild throughout West Africa.
Mimosa pigra Linn, (lower photo). This is similar to ili. invisa
in appearance grows on met banks and aquatic
but
envfronments. It can be distinguished from M
vmsa by its very
sensitive leaves and pale mauve flower balls which differ from
the pinkish tlowers of M. invisa.
312
laterial
Botanical name: Mimosa pudica Linn.
Common name: sensitive plant

•
Description: A prickly perennial berb that has sensitive leaves

and usually prostrate stems that trail on the ground. It reproduces
from seeds. The stem is round and straggling; usually covered
with hairs but sometimes smooth, and always with some
scattered flat, recurved prickles. The leaves are alternate and
.bipinnate, 1 or2 paired on a common prickly stalk (rhachis)
about 4 cm The leaflets are oblong-linear, up to 12 mm
long.
long, smooth or softly hairy, especially at the margins. They are
very sensitive and fold up or close at the slightest touch. Each
substalk (pinnae) has about 12-25 pairs of leaflets. The
inflorescence consists of flowers in globose heads in leaf axils,
and are usually on pedicels that are 2.5 cm long. The flowers
are pinkish, round and about 12 mm in diameter. The fruits are
1-3-seeded, flat, densely packed in bristly pods up to 2 cm long
tbat are chistered on a peduncle about 3-5 cm long. The seeds
are round, pale brown and smooth about 2 mm in diameter.
Habitat: A common weed on lawns, roadsides, pastures and
waste areas. It was probably introduced as a cover crop but has
become a widespread weed.
314
" aterial
Family: LEGUMINOSAE-MIMOSOIDEAE
Botanical name: SdiraMa Uptacarpa DC.
Description: A prickly perennial herb with sensitive leaves and

trailing stems often forming a tangled mass. It reproduces from
seeds. The stem is angled, woody at the base, slender, greenish
and covered with stiff recurved prickles. The leaves are
atternate, sensitive and bipinnale, ¥ith 2-3 pairs of pinnae on a
common stalk (rhachis), 10 cm long, each pmnae bearing 10-20
pairs of broadly-linear leaflets about 1 cm long, that are pointed
at the apex, entire at the margins and smooth on both surfaces.
The inflorescence consists of axillary flowers in globose heads
on short pedicels. The flowers are light pink, about 10 mm
across. The fruits are long, slender pods up to 13 cm long, with
4 ridges that are pubescent with sti£f» horizontally pomted hairs.
Habitat: A weed of cultivated fields, bush regrowth and

roadsides. Probably introduced to West Africa but now a
widespread weed.
316
317
, iiaterial
Fanuly: L£GUMINOSA£: PAPIUONOID£A£
Botanical name: Crotalaria macrocalyx Benth.
Description: A semi-erect annual herb up to 60 cm high that

reproduces from seeds. The stem is slender and cylindrical,
rather procumbent and ooveied with long soft hairs. It has a
woody tap root. The Icsvcsiue lower leaves are
alternate, the
trifoliate while the upper leaves are unifbliate, narrowly-
lanceolate, 2.5-7.0 cm long, 0.5-1.8 cm wide, acute at the apex,
and with short leaf The upper leaf surface and the veins
stalks.
are covered with dense soft haiis. The inflorescence consists of

terminal racemes with the flowcfs In clusters. The flowers are
characterized by the orange yellow petals and densely hauy
bracts. The frullB are ovoid pods about 1 cm long and 8 mm
wide. They have velvety-brown hairs, and are enclosed in
densely-hairy bracts.
Hahltat; A weed of cultivated crops and bush regrowths in the

savanna zone.
318
Copyrighted
aterial
Family: LEGUMINOSAE: PAPIUONOIDEAE
Botanical name: Crotalaria retusa Linn.
Conunon name: rattkbox
Description: An erect, half-slirabby, annual herb up to 1 m

high, that reproduces from seeds. The stem is hollow, woody at
the base, branched and generally glabrous. The leaves are simple
and alternate, oblanceolate, 4-7 cm long and '1.5-2.5 cm wide,
rounded and denied (retuse) at the qiex, wedge-shaped at tlie
base, with enttfe margins, asmooth upper leaf blade and a lower
with fine hahrs. The inflomcence is a terminal raceme
surfieice
on a long, stiff axis up to 30 cm long. The flowers are many and

have conspicuous yellow petals with purple veins. The fruits are
many-seeded pods about 4.5 cm long, becoming inflated as they
mature and turning black on drying. The seeds are pale-brown,
smooth, hard and about 3 mm
long.
•
Hat»itat: A common weed of cultivated crops, bush regrowths,

waste areas and roadsides. Widespread in both the forest and
savanna zones of West Africa.
320
Family: LEGUMINOSAE-PAPILIONOIDEAE
Botanical name: Desmodiim saUcôUum (Poir.) DC.
Description: An erect, perennial undershrub up to 100 cm high

that reproduces from seeds. The stem is half-woody, cylindrical
and softly hairy. The leaves are alternate,. trifoliate, the leaflets
are oblong-lanceolate, but lanceolate in the tenninal leaflet which
is about 3 times as long as' wide, acute at the apex, with
numerous lateral nerves, and dense soft hahrs along the nerves
and on the lower surface. The Inflorescence is a terminal or sub-
terminal spike-like raceme with many shortly-stalked, yellow or
reddish tlowers. The fruits are slightly indented pods, flat,
hairy, 3-5 seeded and with net-like veins. The pod turns
brownish when dry.
Habitat: A weed of field crops in the ibiest-savanna transition

and savanna zones.
322
Family: LEGUMINOSAE-PAPIUONOIDEAE
Botanical name:Desmodium scorpiurus (Sw.) Desv.
{=Hedysarum scorpiurus Desv.)
Common name: beggarweed
Description: A pereimial herb with straggliog or prostrate

branches rooting from the nodes and that reproduces from seeds.
The stem is rounded, climbing or procumbent, greenish and
hairy. The leaves are alternate, trifoliate with oblong to oblong-
elliptic leatlets, the terminal leaflet is larger than the lower part
and rounded at both ends, about 2 cm long and 1 cin wide,
sparingly hairy.The inflorescence Is a few-flowered, terminal
raceme about 10 cm long. The flowers range in colour from blue
and white to reddish purple. The fruU is a 5-8 seeded pod,
slightly or shallowly segmented and about 4 mm long and 2 mm
wide.
Habitat: It is a common weed of cultivated fields, waste areas

and roadsides and is widespread ui West Africa. It is reported to
make good pasture legume especially in a mixture with short
grasses such as Axonopus and Paspalum spp. A species very
similar to D. scorpiurus but with white petals has been seen in
the field.
324
laterial
Family: LEGUNONOSAB-PAPILIONOIDEAE
Botanical name: Desmodium tortuosum (Sw.) DC.
Common name: Florida beggarweed
Description: An erect, annual shrub up to 3 m high, that

reproduces from seeds. The stem is slender, semi-woody,
branched and hairy. The leaves are alternate and trifoliate. The
terminal leaflet is larger than the lower pair, rhomboid, sub-
acute and endmg abruptly at a pointed apex. The base of the l^f
blade is wedge-shaped and merges into a long petiole. The blade
is about 7 cm long and 3 cm wide, thin and rather flaccid and
devoid of hairs. The inflorescence is a terminal open panicle
about 15 cm long. The flowers are small, pinkish or greenish
yellow with stalks that are about 1 cm long. The fruits are 4-6
seeded pods, segmented and twisted, rounded, flat, finely
pubescent and about 2.5 cm long and 3 wide. mm
Habitat: This weed is common in cultivated fields and waste
areas.
326
327
^
aterial
Famfly: LEGUMINOSAE-PAPa.IONOIDEAE
Botanical name: Eriosema psoraleoides (Lam.) G. Don
Descriptioii: An erea annual shrub about 80-120 cm high. It
reproduces by seeds. The sUm is moderately branched. It is
more or less hairy, widi short silky hairs. The leaves are
trifoliate, oblong-lanceolate, hairy on the upper surface, about 10
cm long and 4 cm wide. The inflorescence consists of long
axillary racemose flowers that are yellow and showy. The fruits
are densely pilose-hauy pods, about 2 cm long.
Habitat: A pan-tropic weed of the Gumea savanna. It is
328
329
Botanical name: Indigofera hirsuta Linn. var. hirsuta
Common name: hairy indigo
Description: An erect, stiftly-hairy annual shrub, low-branching

up to 100 cm high, that reproduces from seeds. The stem is
woody, dull red, profusely branched and densely covered with
brown stiff hairs. The leaves are hairy, alternate, and pinnate, up
to 7.5 cm long with 3-7 leatlcts arranged in pairs, with an odd
leaflet at the end. The leaves are obovate, about 3 cm long and
2 cm wide, rounded and blunt at the apex. Each leaf has a pair
of hairy stipules. 1-2 cm long at the base. The leaf blades have
entiremargms. The Inflorescence a narrow, conical shaped
is
raceme, up to 15 cm long in the axils ofupper leaves. The

flowers have short stalks, are pinkish-red with a conspicuously
hairy calyx and ciliate petals. The fruit is a straight, cylindrical
pod up to 2 cm long that is bent backwards on the intlorescence
stalk, has 3-8 seeds and is densely covered with brown coarse
hairs.
Habitat: A common weed of cultivated fields, waste areas and

bush regrowths. Widespread in West Africa.
330
Botanical name: Tephrosia bracteoLata Guill. & Perr.
Description: An erect, branched annual shrub up to 1.5 m high*
that reproduces from seeds. The stem is slender, cylindrical,
woody, especially at the base, and has short, soft, silvery hairs.
The leaves are alternate, pinnate, up to 20 cm long, with about
10 pairs of leaflets. The leaflets are linear 4.5-8 cm long and
3.5-7 mm wide. They have apiculate apices that taper towards
the base into short, winged petiolules. The leaf blades have silky
hairs on their lower surfaces as well as on the main nerves. The
Inflorescence is a long-stalked raceme, 20-25 cm long with
rather lax flowers that are pale pink and are mclosed by broadly
ovate bracteoles that are about 5 mm long. The fruits are tlat,
linear pods up to 9 cm long and 4 nun wide.
Habitat: A weed of open dry areas in die forest/savanna

transition and Guinea savanna zones.
332
333
Botanical name: Taphrosia linearis (Willd.) Pers.
Description: An erect, spreading annual herb that grows to a

height of about 30-90 cm. It reproduces by seeds. The stem is
slender, ribbed with gray pubescent branches. The leaves are
pinnate, up to 5-t\)liolate. The Icatlcis are linear and hairy; about
3 cm h)ng and 2-3 mm wide. The flowers are small, pink or
orange in colour. The fruits are Hat pods that are longer than the
leaves. These pods are pubescent to the touch and grey in

colour.
Habitat: It is a common weed of the Guinea savanna zone.
334
Botanical name: Tephrosia pedicellata Bak.
Description: A prostrate, semi-woody herb that is barely 30 cm

high. r^roduces by seeds. It has weak, semi-trailing stems
It
that are woody at the base. The leaves are hairy, lanceolate and
about 2-3 cm long. The flowers are small, pinkish and have
short peduncles. The fruits are small pods about 3.5 cm long
and 4 mm wide. They are covered with appressed brownish
hairs.
Habitat: A common weed on cultivated fields, bush regrowth

and roadsides throughout the savanna zone.
336
Ccr
Botanical name: Zomia latifoUa Sm.
Description: An erect or procumbent perennial herb with

sprouting branches up to 20 cm high, that rq)roduces from
seeds. The stem is wiry, woody at the base, hairy and many-
branched. The lower leaves are broadly-ovate, about 3.5 cm
long and 1-1.5 cm wide, acute at the apex, entire at the margins
and softly hairy. The upper leaves are alternate and may be
single or paued leaflets that are lanceolate in sluê. The
faiflorescence is an axillary or terminal racone with yellow
flowers subtended by acute, lanceolate bracts up to 2 mm long,
and conspicuously dotted with glands. The fruits have hairy
bristles. The mature pods are segmented into 7 compartments.
Habitat: A common weed of lawns, waste areas and roadsides.

It is widespread in West Africa.
338
339
Family: LOGANIACEAE
Botanical name: Spigelia anthelmia Linn.
Common mmie: worm bush, pinkweed, bomvier
Description: A hairless, annual herb with an erect stem up to 60

cm high, that reproduces from seeds. The stem is hollow, round
and soKMnh. The leaves are opposite, 4 in a whorl, lanceolate or
ovate-lanceolate, 15 cm long and 6 cm wide, acute at the apex,
wedge-shaped at the base, and smooth with transparent veins and
entire margins. The inflorescence is a long, narrow, terminal
spilce up to 12 cm long and surmounted by leaves. The flowers
are small, many, subsessile, funnel-shaped and pinkish-purple,
up to 8 mm long. The fruits are bi-lobed, warty capsules about
15 mm in diameter, containing up to i5 black equally warty
seeds.
Habitat: A common weed of cultivated fields in open regrowths,

waste areas and roadsides. It is considered poisonous to animals.
340
341
Family: MALVAC£A£
Botanical name: Abutilon niauritianum (Jacq.) Medic.
Description: An erect, hoary-looking, perennial herb up to

1.5 m high, that reproduces from seeds. The stem is woody,
especially at the base, with many branches. The bark is fibrous
and hoary with soft white hairs. The leayes are suiq)le and
alternate, broadly-ovate about 4-12 cm long, heart-shaped at the
base, and with petioles up to 14 cm long. The leaf margins are
dentate, the apex is acuminate and the lower surface of the
blades covered with dense, long soft hairs. The inflorescence has
a solitary flower, or sometimes paired axillary flowers on stalks
about 8 cm long. The flower is yellow, about 3 cm wide,
opening at noon, and the petals drop soon afterwards. The fhiHs
are dry capsules, 1-2.5 cm in diameter, shaped like a cup and
the segments are subtended by pale greenish foliaceous bracts,
at first pale greenish and pilose, but blackish when mature.
Habitat: A common weed of field crops, bush regrowths,

wastelands and around settlements. Widespread in West Africa.
342
I
343
Family: MALVACEAE
Botanical name: Hibiscus ospo'EobL f.
Description: An erect, annual herb up to 2 m high that

reproduces from seeds. The stem is cylindrical, woody and
robust, often with sharp tubercles and tinged red, bristly to
sparingly hairy. The leaves are alternate, with petioks 2^10 cm
long, variable in shape, 1, 2 or 3 foliate, or often pahnately
lobed; the lobes are linear to linear-lanceolate, irregularly
toothed at the margins and covered with bristly hairs on the
lower surface and along the main nerves. The inflorescence is
comprised of one, two or three sessile flowers in each leaf axil.

The flowers are yellow with purple centres. The firuits are ovoid
csq[>sules about 3 cm in diameter, hauy, often speckled red and
covered by a calyx with bristles. The seeds are brownish and
about 3 mm long.
Habitat: A conunon weed of cultivated fields in the diy savanna
zone, widespread in West Africa.
344
laterial
Family: MALVACEAE
Botanical name: Malvastrum coronumdelianwn (Liim.) Garcke
Common name: false mallow
Description: A many-branched annual or small perennial shrub

up to 100 cm high that reproduces from seeds. The stem is
woody at the base, often reddish and hairy with flat pressed
hairs. The leaves are alternate, variable, ovate-lanceolate to
ovate or broadly-ovate, 3-6 cm long and 2-3 cm wide, coarsely
serrated, rounded at the base and hairy on both surfaces and
along the main nerves. The petiole is about 2 cm long. The
inflorescence is a terminal or axillary raceme, with tlowers
borne singly or crowded. The flowers are pale yellow with short
stalks, that are enclosed with leafy bracts that persist with the
fruits to maturity. The fruits are compressed capsules, reniform
in shape, very hairy and have 8-12 carpels. Each carpel has a
straight awn.
Habitat: A common weed of cultivated fields in the savanna

zone. It also occurs in fallows and roadsides.
346
FamUy: MALVACEAE
Botanical name: Sida acuta Burm. f.
Comnion name: broomweed
Description: An erect, branched, small perennial shnib with a

woody tap root, and hairy branches up to 1 m high that
reproduces from seeds. The stem is woody, round and slender,
rather fibrous and hairy, especially when young. The leaves are
single and alternate, lanceolate, 3-5 cm long, 1-1.5 cm wide,
acute at the apex, the margins are finely toothed, slightly
rounded at the base with short petioles, about 7 mm long and
usually with a pair of stipules 10 mm long, and 2 mm wide, both
surfaces of the lamina are smooth. The inflorescence is solitary
and axillary with stalks up to 1.3 cm long jointed about half the
length. The flowers are yellow, with five petals and the fruit is
a caîsule with 5-6 carpels. There is one seed in each carpel. The
mature capsule is reddish-brown, reticulated and with 2-shaip
awns.
Habitat: A pan-tropical weed of cultivated crops, pastures,

roadsides and waste areas. It is widespread in West Africa.
348
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laterial
Family: MALVACEAE
Botanical name: Sida cordifoUa Linn.
Description: An erect, rather hoaiy pmnnial shrub with softly

hairy stems up to 1.5 m high, that reproduces from seeds. The
stem is woody and round, the bark hoary and wooly with soft
stellate hairs. The leaves are alternate, broadly ovate, 3-7 cm
long and 3-5 cm wide. The leaf margins are dentate, rounded at
the apex and heart-shaped 4t the base. The blade is soft to the
touch and woolly on the lower surftice and along the main nerves
with fine stellate hairs. The leafttalk is long, about 4.5 cm. The
inflorescence is an axillary or terminal raceme, leafy with many
flowers. The flowers are yellow, 5-8 cm in diameter, on stalks
about 1.5 cm long. The fruits are capsules and each has 10
carpels. The fruit is hoary and densely covered with reflexed
woolly haurs; each carpel bears 2^ri8tly awns.
HaMtat: A weed of cultivated fields, along roadsides and m

recent bush regrowths.
350
351
" aterial
FamUy: MALVAC£A£
Botanical name: SidagarckeanaPolak, (^SidacorynAosaK,E,
Fries)
Description: An erect, basally woody, pereimial shrub with

liairy steinsup to 2 m high, that rq)roduce8 from seeds. The
stem is woody, fibrous and greenish, and covered with dense
long hairs. The leaves are alternate, variable, rhomboid, elliptic
or ovate-lanceolate about 14 cm long and 5.8 cm wide, coarsely
toothed in the upper half, with petioles up to 8 mm long, and
covered with dense long hairs. The inflorescence consists of
solitary flowers occurring in the axils of the leaves. The flowers
are arranged in 5 parts (5-merous). The petals are yellow and are
about 1 cm m diameter. The fruit is an ovoid capsule, with eight
carpels that are more or less beaked and about 4 mm
in
diameter.
Habitat: A weed of cultivated fields, waste areas, roadsides and

(ên clearings. It is abundant in Nigeria.
352
laterial
Family: MALVACEAE
Botanical name: Sida lin{folia Juss ex Cav.
Description: An erect or straggling annual or perennial shrub up

to 1 m high, that rq)roduces from seeds. The stem is more or
less straggling, woody at the base, rather small and rounded,
fibrous, dark-green and hairy. The leaves are alternate, linear or
linear-lanceolate, about 12 cm long and 1 .5 cm wide. They have
short petioles about 8 mm long, margins and prominent
entire
midribs and are pubescent on their lower surfaces. The
Inflorescence is comprised of lax terminal cymes with the
flowers on pedicels 1-2 cm long. The flowers are white, usually

with red to purple centers and are about 12-18 nun in diameter.
The fruits are dehiscent capsules with 5 or 6 carpels, not beaked
at the tips. The carpels open when dry.
Habitat: A weed of bush regrowths. It is common in sorghum

fields in the savanna zone.
354
355
FamUy: MALVACEAE
BotaniGal name: Sida rhombtfi^ L.
Common name: wireweed, cubajute
Description: A perennial shrub that reproduces by seeds much

similar to 5. acuta but distinguished by the following
characteristics: the leaves are much larger, up to 6 cm long and
2.5 cm wide, ihoifiboid or elliptic with petioles 4-5 mm long and
the lower surface of the lamina hairy. The flowers have longer
pedicels, usually 2-3 cm long and are joined nearer the upper
part about %-V3 away from the flower joint. The fruit is a
dehiscent capsule with 8 to 12 caipels, the beak of each caipel
is rather shortly bent, and not straight and pomted.
Habitat: This is a variable weed, widespread in West Africa and

commonly found on roadsides, grasslands, pastures and disturbed
areas in both the derived savanna and the Guinea savanna zones.
356
'OB.
1«
Family: MALVACEAE
Botanical name: Urena Idbata Linn.
Common name: hibiscus bur, cadillo
Description: An erect, bushy perennial slirub up to 2 m high

that rq[>roduces from seeds. The stem is woody» ronnd and
fibrous, often scabrous, and covered with white stellate hairs.
The leaves are aheraate, variable in shape, usually 3- to 5-lobed.
The lobes are often shallow, but sometimes deep, about 2-8 cm
h)ng and 8 cm wide, irregularly dentate at the margins and with
stalks up to 10 cm long. The leaf is prominently veined, the
main vein always bears a gland at the base.The lower leaf
surface has soft whitish or stellate haks. The inHoresoenoe
is a
solitary, axillarycyme. The flowers are pink» about 2.5 cm in
diameter and sessile or with short stalks. The fhdts are 5-
seeded, globose capsules about 9 ram in diameter, warty with
rigid hooked bristles.
Habitat: A weed of cuitivatied crops, usually found near

settlements.
358
laterial
Family: MORACEAE
Botanical name: Ficus exasperata Vahl.
Common name: sandpaper tree
Description: A deciduous tree that can grow to about 20 m high

in torcsts, but bushy and shrubby to about 2 m high in secondary
forest regrowths where it often grows as a weed. It reproduces
from seeds and vegetativeiy trom stem cuttings. The stem is
round, soft wooded, smooth and greyisli. When cut it produces
a sticky (viscid) sap that is not miUcy. The leaves are alternate
and radier variable, ovate to obovate-elliptic or sometimes lobed
when the plant is young. The leaf is 3-17 cm long and 2.5- 11 cm
wide on petioles about 1.5 cm long. They may be either wedge-
shaped or rounded at the base, acuminate at the apex and very
rough (scabrid) on the surface, where there are 3-4 paurs of veins
that are prominent and upcurving. The Inflorescence is axillary
and as in all Ficus plants, the flowers are reduced to reoqitades
and are not conspicuous. The fruits are globose or sub-globose
figs that are rough when mature and about 1.3 cm in diameter.
Habitat: This weed is conunon in dry secondary forest

rôwths and in bush fallows where the coppice shoots easily
sprout out to form a bushy weed in no-till cultivation.
360
laterial
Family: NYCTAGINACEAE
Botanical name: Boerhavia coccinea Mill. {=B. viscosa Lag &
Rodr.)
Common name: red spiderling, tarvine
Description: A suberect perennial herb up to 50 cm high» with

a thickened, tleshy root stock which reproduces from seeds. The
stems are slender and jointed. They are more or less fleshy and
woody below, greenish or sometimes reddish, and branch low
from the base. The branches may either be pubescent or smooth
and they are always sticky with glandular hairs abdve. The
leaves are opposite, rather fleshy and sticky when squeezed.
They are broadly ovate, about 3-4 cm long and 2-4 cm wide,
entire at the margins, blunt at the tips and with petioles about 1-3
cm long. The inflorescence is a leafy, elongated, slender-stalked
umbel, formed in leaf axils and at the terminals of the stems.
The flowers are small, 4-12 in a capitulum, pinkish and about 2
mm loQsi. The fhiits are one-seeded capsules about 3 mm long,
club-shaped, 5-ribbed and very sticky with glandular hairs.
Habitat: A weed of cultivated fields, pastures, lawns and waste

areas.
362
Family: NYCTAGINACEAE
Botanical name: Boerhuvia diffusa L.
Common name: red spiderling
Description: A hairless, scmi-prosirate perennial herb up to 60

cm high with a thick, tleshy rootstock, and that reproduces from
seeds. The stem is slender. Jointed, more or less tleshy and
woody below. It is greenish or sometimes purplish, low
branching, glabrous and not sticky from glandular hairs. The
leaves are opposite, somewhat fleshy, broad iy-ovate, 2.5-4 cm
long and 2-4 cm wide with petioles 1-3 cm long, blunt-tipped,
entire and smooth. The inflorescence is a many-hranched,
elongated cyme formed in the leaf axils and at the terminals of
the stems. The flowers are deep purple or crimson, about 2-5
tlowers in a capituium. The fruit is a 1 -seeded sticky capsule
with 5 ribs, and about 3 mm long.
Habitat: A common weed of cultivated fields, waste areas,

roadsides and lawns. It is widespread in West Africa (upper
photo).
Other related species: Boerhavia erecta Linn. This weed is
similar to B. iUffitsa but can be distinguished from it by the fact

that B. erecta has an erect and nniM-branched inflorescence with
pale pinkish-white tlowers. The fruits are not sticky (lower
photo).
364
Copyrighted*matBrial
laterial
FamUy: P£DALIACEA£
Botanical name: Sesamum alanm Thmming
Common name; Gazelle's sesame, wild beasts* sc^same
Description: An up to 1 m lugh, that

erect annual herb
reproduces from seeds.The stem Is woody at tiie base, 4-angled,
grooved and covered with fine glandular l^drs especially, when
young. The leaves are opposite ^r sub-opposite, 6 cm long and
1 .0 cm wide, linear-lanceolate, but the lower leaves usually have
3 or 5 lobes, sessile, smooth or <^ften with fine glandular hairs.
The inllomcaiee is axillary wUh Mitary flowers on short
pedicels about 5 mm loQg. The flyîm are beU-^h^îmdha^
pmk: or bright red, liaiiy corolla f/lfik dark spotted throats about-
3 cm long. The fhiits are 2.5-5 cfai Idng capsules, long-beaked,
dehiscent when dry, rather bristly, and contain many seeds. The
seeds are flat, 2-3 mm long and winged at both eods.
Habitat; A common weed of cultivated fields in the dry savanna
zones m West Afiica.
366
367
Family: PEDALIACEAE
Botanical name: Sesantum indicum Linn.
Common name: sesame, beniseed
Description: An erect, hairy, annual herb, 80-100 cm high, that

rq>roduces from seeds. The stem is angled, woody at the base,
sparsely branched and covered with soft, short hairs. The leaves
are alternate or sub-opposite, linear-lanceolate to ovate-
lanceolate, but the lowest ones are irregularly or palmately
divided; they are generally about 6 cm long and 1 .5 cm wide,
hairy on both surfaces and with petioles about 2.5 cm long. The
inflorescence consists of solitary flowers in the axils of the
upper leaves. The flowers are bell-shaped, pale pinkish-white,
tinged purple and about 3 cm long, the corolla has soft hairs.
The fruit is a many-seeded, dry dehiscent capsule, 3 cm long,
1 .2 cm wide, hairy and owl-beaked at the tip. The seeds are flat,
fmely ribbed, without wings, about 3 mm long and 1.5 mm

wide.
Habitat: Originally introduced and cultivated for its seeds that

are the 'beniseed' of commerce and also as a vegetable, but now
an escapee plant and a widespread weed of cultivated fields in
the forest and savanna zones of West Africa.
368
369
Famtty: PIPERACEAB
Botanical name: Feperomia pelludda (L.) H. B. & K.
Description: An erect, succotatf and lather translucent annual
hefb, lO-SO cm high that rqiroducesitaelffram seeds. The stem
is fleshy, round, delicate and glabrous. The leaves are alternate
on stalks about 1-2 cm long. The blades are broadly-ovate, heart-
shaped at the base, entire at the margins, rather thin, about 1.8-
2.5 cm long and 1.2-1.8 cm wide and smooth on both surfaces.
The inflorescence consists of slender îiusy 1-6 cm long arising
at stem termhials as well as leaf axils. The flowers are
munerous, scattered on the spikes, without petals, bat with only
two stamens and an ovary. The fruits are minute, 1 -seeded
berries.
Habitat: A weed of damp, moist places, common in West

Africa. It was introduced from tropical America.
370
^
aterial
Famify: PORTULACAC£AE
Botanical name: Portulaca oleracea Linn.
ComnMni name: common purslane
Desaipdoii; A semi-prostrate, non-haiiy, annual heib that has

succulent, free branching stems arising from a deep tap root, it
reproduces from seeds. The stem is thick and fleshy, round and
glabrous. The leaves are thick and succulent, alternate, sub-
opposite or whorled. The blades are oblanceoiate, 2-3 cm ioi^
and 1-2 cm wide, rounded at the apex» wedge-steqied at the base,
sessile and smooth on both surfisioes. The infloracence consists
of solitary flowers, sometimes in groups of 2-5 at the terminals
of the stem's leaf axils. The flowers are yellow and about
10 mm wide. The fruits are small capsules about 6-8 nun long
and 3-4 mm wide which split by terminal caps to release very
many minute, warty, black seeds.
Habitat: A cosmopolitan weed of cultivated fields and waste

areas, widespread in West Africa.
372
Famtty: PORTULACAC£A£
Botanical name: Portulaca quadrifida Linn.
Commoii name: ten o'clock plant
Description: A succulent, annual herb with prostrate stems

rooting at the nodes, that reproduces from seeds. The stem is
fleshy, often reddish, many-branched and trailing to about

25 cm. It is segmented and has woolly hairs at the nodes. The
leayes are opposite, fleshy, generally greenish but sometunes
reddish. The blades are lanceolate to ovate, about 6 long andmm
2 mm wide, without stalks, acute at the apex, entire at the
margins and with threadlike stipules at the base. The
inflorescence consists of solitary flowers occurring at the ends
of the stem shoots. The flowers are yellow, without stalks and
about 5 nun in diameter. The fruits are small capsules that split
down the middle to drop numerous minute seeds.
Habitat: A pan-tropical weed of cultivated fields, usually

common on poor soils, lawns, roadsides and waste areas. A
weed of fleld crops.
374
375
Family: PORTULACACEA£
Botanical name: Talinum triangulare (Jacq.) Willd.
Common name: waterleaf
Description: An erect, up to 60 cm high

fleshy perennial herb
that has a swollen tap root and reproduces from seeds and
vegetatively from stem cuttings. The stem is tleshy, smooth,
greenish and has very few branches below the inflorescence. The
leaves are simple and alternate, fleshy and smooth, with obovate
blades 10 cm long and 4 cm wide, and are notched at the apex.
The leaf margins are entke and txget to the base. The
inflorescence a dichotomoosly branched, terminal panicle that
is
is loose and has few flowers, llie flowers are plnlc, each about
2 mm across and on a 3-angled, winged pedicel. The fruit is a

small, pale yellowish, round capsule about 5-6 mm long that
splits to release small, black, shiny seeds.
Habitat: A weed of cultivated fields, wide^read in West Africa.

It is used as a vegetable m parts of this subregion.
376
377
Family: RUBIACEAE
Botanical name: Diodia sarmentosa Sw. (^Diodia scandens
Sw.)
Description: A straggling perennial herb with climbing stems up

to about 3 m long, that repr(xiuces trom seeds. The stem is
angled, half-woody, slender and segmented into nodes; the

interaodes are either smooth or slightly hairy. The leaves are
opposite, ovate to ovate lanceolate, 2.5-5 cm long and 1-2.5 cm
wide, with short petioles, rough margins and acuminate apex.
They are rather silvery, prominently nerved, hairy beneath and
rough to the touch. The inflorescence consists of several white
tlowers clustered in the leat axils. The fruit is a small ovoid
capsule 3-4 mm long.
Habitat: A weed of cultivated fields and bush fallow regrowtibs
378
Family; RUB1AC£A£
Botihical name: Mitracarpus villosus (Sw.) DC. (Âf. scaber
ZuccJ
Description: An erect, annual herb up to 60 cm high that

reproduces irom seeds. The stem 4 angled, hairy, sparsely
is
branched, woody at the base, segmented into nodes, with each

interaode bearing a pair of leaves. The leaves are opposite,
elliptic, 3-6 cm long and 7-15 mm wide, usually with stipules,
acute at the apex, wedge-shaped at the base, sessile and with

rough margins. The upper surface is more or less rough and
hairless while the lower surface is smooth except for the veins,
that may bear some hairs. The Inflorescence consists of globose
heads, 1-1.8 cm in diameter in the leaf axils, and bearing small
white flowers that are 4-lobed, without stalks and about 2.5 mm
long. The fhiHs are small capsules with small, more or le^
rectangular-shaped, yellow-brown seeds.
Habitat: A weed of arable crops, bush fallows and waste areas.

It is common in West Africa.
380
laterial
Family: RUBIACEAE
Botanical name: Oldenlandia coryinbosa Linn
Description: A glabrous, diffusely branched annual herb with

erect or straggling stenisup to 30 cm high, sometimes n>otu^
the nodes. It The stem is woody at the
reproduces from seeds.
base, more or less angled, slender and glabrous. The leaves are
opposite, linear lanceolate, 1-3 cm long and 2-4 cm wide. They
are sessile, acute at the apex, entire at the margins, smooth, pale
green beneath and dark green above. The inflorescence is a
corymbose-umbel with 2-4 flowers on a peduncle up to 2 cm
long, occurring in leaf axils all along the stem.' The flowers are
white, 2 cm in diameter on pedicels up to 1 cm
long. The fruit
is a round, many-seeded capsule with two carpels. The seeds are
numerous, minute, round and brownish.
A common weed of cultivated fields, roadsides and

waste* areas.
382
383
Family: RUBIACEAB
Botanical name: Oldenlandia h&rbacea (Linn.) Roxb
Description: A difiuse, ammal herb with an met, hairless stem

up to 30 cm high, that reproduces from seeds. The stem is
woody at the base, more or less angled, has many-branches and
is glabrous. The leaves are sessile, opposite, narrowly-linear,
1.5-4 cm long and 1-2 mm wide. The Inflorescence is an

axillary panicle with the flowers. either solitary or paired but
without apeduncle. The flowers are white, and the corolla is 1-2
mm long. The fhiit is a round, 2-celled capsule about 1 mm in
diameter. The seeds are minute, numôus, smooth and
brownish.
Habitat: A common weed of cultivated fields in the savanna

zones. It is widespread in West Africa.
384
Ccr
FamUy: RUfilACEAE
Botanical name: Spemacoce ododm (Hepper) Lebnm.A Stork
{^Borreria octodon Hepper)
Description: An annual herb with erect, slightly scabrid stems,

about 50 cm high, it reproduces by seeds. The leaves are linear
or linear-lanceolate, up to 10 cm long.The inflorescence is in
terminal globose heads subtended by leafy bracts. The flowers
are small, while in colour with tiqges of pmk.
Habitat: A common weed of farmlands in the Guinea savanna

zone.
386
387
" aterial
FamUy: RUBIAC£AE
Botanical name: !^>emiacoce ocymokies Buim. f. (^Borreria
ocymoides [Bunn. f.] DC.)
Description: A softly hairy, creeping perennial herb with

prostrate stems often erect up to about 8 cm high. It reproduces
from seeds and cuttings. The stem is angled, prostrate or erect,
rather weak and covered with short white hairs. The leares are
opposite, rather small, 3 cm long and 5-12 nun wide. They are
acute at the apex, wedge-shaped at the base and glabrous to
sparsely hairy. The inflorescence consists of flowers in globose
heads in the leaf axils and subtended by 2 pairs of leaves at the
top. The flowers are white, tubular and up to 3 mm long. The
fruit is a capsule with a 4-lobed persistent calyx always at the
top.
Habitat: A weed of arable crops, lawns and waste areas.
laterial
Family: RUBIACEAB
Botanical name: Spermacoce verticUlata Linn. (=^Borreria
veniciliata (L.) G.F.W. Mey)
Descrlptkn: An eiect, branched herb, with smooth, half-woody

stems iq» to 60 cm
high, that r^roduoes from seeds. The stem
iswoody, especially at the base. It is more or less angled and
smooth. The leaves are opposite with oblanceolate blades that are
entire at the margins, acute at the apex, stalkless and about 3-5
cm long and 5-10 mm wide. The inflorescence consists of
flowers In conm>act» globose heads, 1-1 .5 cm in diameter, usually
found at the temunals of die stems and in die axils, of the
uppermost pair of leaves and subtended by two downward
pointing leafy bracts. The flowers are white, tubular and about
3 mm long. The fruits are small, 2-celled capsules containing
small, flat, black seeds 8 mm in diameter.
Habitfll: A weed of cultivated fields and waste areas. It is
widespread m West Africa.
390
Copyrighted
" aterial
Family: SCROPHULARIACEAE
Botanical name: Scoparia dulcis Linn.
Cammon mmie: sweet broomweed
Description: An erect, shrubby herb up to 100 cm high whidt

usually hasmany axillary shoots and rep reduces -from seeds. The
stem is more or less woody, ribbed, many branched and
glabrous. The leaves are opposite or three at a node, oval or
narrowly-obianceolate, about 2.5-5 cm long and 1.5 cm wide,
widely toothed upper half and entire and wedge-shaped at
at the
the lower half. The leaf blade is smooth except that liie lower
surface has some glandular dots. The inflorescence is a slender
raceme with 1 or 2 flowers in the upper leaf axil. The flowers
are white or bluish and pedicelled. The fruit is a round capsule.
Habitat: A common weed of cultivated crops and waste areas.

392
Coy J 1 lyl iiCU I , i atui lal

" aterial
Family! SCROPHULARIACEAE
Botanical name: Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth.
Common name; purple witdiweed
Description: An erect, branched, semi-parasitic, annual heib up to

60 cm high with a mudi reduced root system that connects and
parasitizes roots of a host plant. It reproduces from seeds. The stem
is angled, woody at the base and rough with scabrid hairs. The
leaves are linear or narrowly elliptic, about 9 cm long and 7 mm

wide, entire at the margins acute at the apex, sessile and scabrid
haiiy. The inflorescenceis a long spike 5-25 cm long with sessile
flowers, each subtended by a narrow leafy bract, 1 cm long. The

flowers are reddish puiple or rarely white, about 3 cm acrdss, with
a sharply bent tube in the middle and four irrîular lobes sd)ove.
Hie fhiit is a capsule about 6 mm long with numerous pollen-like
seeds.
Habitat: Common in the drier savanna zones where it constitutes a

serious weed problem in sorghum and odier cereals (upêr photo).
Other related species: Jl) Stqga qsiaticd. (L.) O. Ktze (red

witchweed). Ah erect annual parasitic herb which is sparsely
distributed in West Africa but more abundant in the Repid>lic of
Benin. It is similar to 5. hermonthica but differs from it having
a slender stem, short linear leaves, solitary flowers that are brig^
scarlet inside, yellow outside, and sometimes all red, yellow or
white. The corolla is 4-lobed. li remains greenish when dry. The
extent of crop damage in West Atrica is not known (lower piioto).
(2) Striga gesnerioides (Willd.) Vatke (tobacco vritchweed). A

perennial parasitic herb widespiead in West Africa. It is a serious
pest of cowpea. Unlike the ann lal Striga spp., S. gesnerioides has
a stout stem, scale-like leaves aiid purple or white flowers borne in
nearly opposite pairs on an eloiigated spike. Like the other Striga
spp., propagation is by seed.
394
ûpy I ighted
I
Family: SOLANACEAE
Botanical name: Physalis angulata Linn.
Common name: wildcape gooseberry
Description: An erect, branched, leafy annual herb about 60-100

cm high, that reproduces from seeds. The stem is angular,
hollow and ribbed; has many-branches and is smooth. The leaves
are alternate, ovate, 5-10 cm long and 2.5-5 cm wide with
coarse and deeply-toothed margins, a pointed apex and an
unequally sided base that tapers into long petioles 2-6 cm long.
They are smooth on both surfaces. The inflorescence consists of
solitary axilliary flowers with stalls that are about 1 .5 cm long.
The flowers are pale yellow with a mauve centre, and a 5-lob
prominently veined calyx thatis persistent and may enlarge into
an inflated membranous bladder, 2.5-3.5 cm long, enclosing the

round fleshy berry. The fruit is a fleshy berry 4-6 mm in
diameter, yellow when ripe. The seeds are round and many.
Habitat: A weed of cultivated crops and bush fallow. It is
common in West Africa.
396
397
Family: SOLANACEAis
Botanical name: Physalis micrantha Linn.
Common name: slender wildcape gooseberry
Description: A very variable, annual lierb that resembles P.

angulata but differs from it by not trailing. Other distinguishing
features include the presence of hairs and flower stalks that are
twice as long as in P. angulata. The stem is slender, spreading,
prostrate or erect, sometimes hairy. The leaves are sub-entire,
ovate, 1.5-3 (5) cm long, acuminate at £4>ex and cuneate at base.
The flowers are small on flower stalks that are twice as long as
in P. angulata. The calyx is enlarged, as in P. angulata, into a
membranous bladder that encloses the fruit, but this bladder is
smaller than that of P. angulata. The fruit is a berry containing
many seeds.
Habitat: A common weed of cultivated crops, widespread in

West Attica.
398
399
" aterial
Family: SOLANACEAE
Botanical name: Schwenckia americana L.
Description: An erect annual herb about 30-60 cm high that

reproduces from seeds. The stem is slender, woody at the base,
with many rather spreadmg branches. The leaves are alternate
and variable, the lower leaves are always larger and with distinct
petioles that are upto 1 cm long. The leaf blades are ovate, 4
cm long and 2.5 cm wide with a blunt apex, while the upper
leaves are sessile, small and ob lanceolate. The inflorescence is
a loose panicle at the stem terminals. The flowers are white,

about 8 mm across. The corolla is tubular and has a slender
pedicel. The fruit is a 2-valved capsule, about 4 mm in
diameter.
Habitat: A common weed of cultivated crops and waste areas in

West Africa.
400
Family: SOLANACBAE
Botanical name: Solanum nigrum L.
Common name: blade nightsliade
Description: A variable annual or biennial herb up to 60 cm

high, that reproduces from seeds. The stem is cylindrical, erect,
with many branches. The leaves are alternate, the blades ovate,
up 8 cm long and 4 cm wide, entire, smooth, wavy or
to
sometimes irregularly lobed at the margms. Petioles are 2.5 cm
long. The infloreaoence consists of 3-7 flowers in small
umbellate cymes on flower stalks arising directly from the stems.
The flowers have a white corolla with yellow stamens, they are
The fruit is a round, fleshy berry up
5-lobed, and have stalks.
to6 mm in diameter and black when ripe. The seeds are brown
and numerous.
Habitat: A worldwide weed of cultivation and waste areas.
402
" aterial
Family: SOLANACEA£
Botanical name: Solanum torvum Swartz
Common name: prickly solanum, turkey berry.
Description: An erect, prickly perennial shrub up to 3 m high,

that reproduces from seeds. The stem is woody at the base,
softly hairy and beset witli scattered recurved, sharp and
flattened prickles. The leaves more or less
are alternate, elliptic,
iobed or broadly ovate, 10-15 cm long and 6-8 cm wide with
densely stellate hairs on both sides. Spines are often present on
the basal undersurface of the midrib. The petiole varies in length
from 1-4 cm. The inflorescence is a 5-6 flowered corymbose
cyme on a short peduncle arising directly from the stem. The
flowers are 1.5-2.5 cm in diameter, have 5 white petals and 5
stamens on short pedicels. The fruit is a fleshy berry, about 1
cm in diameter, yellow-green when ripe and containing many

seeds.
Habitat: A common weed of cultivated crops and waste areas

404
405
Family: STERCUUACBAE
Botanical name: Waltheria indica Linn.
Description: An erect* softly-hairy perennial herb or shrub up

to 1.5 m high that reproduces from seeds. The stem is woody,
slender, branched and covered with dense soft hairs. The leaves
are alternate, with ovate-lanceolate blades up to 14 cm long and
6 cm wide, closely toothed at the margins, rounded, more or less
heart-shaped at the base, notched at the apex and pale greyish-
green in colour. The leaves are densely covered with soft stellate
hairs on the undersurface. The infloresoeiioe is a many-flowcred
cyme with the flowers crowded in the leaf axils and at the stem
terminals. The flowers are small, sessile and low but turn orange
or brown when dry and have hairy calices about 6 mm long. The
fruit is a one-seeded, 2-valved capsule, with a small wrinkled
seed.
Habitat: A common weed of arable crops and fallow regrowdis.

406
>ôpy ighted
I
407
Family: TIUACEA£
Botanical name: Trumjetia cordifolia A. Rich.
Description: An erect, perennial shrub with hairy but sometimes

smooth stems up to 4.5 m
high that reproduces from seeds. The
stem is woody at the base, more or less hollow, pithy and may
be smooth or bear brown soft hairs. The leaves are alternate,
heart-shaped, undivided (though some have shallow lobes), about
7-15 cm long and 10 cm wide and have pointed apices, toothed
margins and cordate (rounded bases) with petioles up to 10 cm
long.The lower surface is pale green with prominent nerves and
may be densely or slightly hairy, while the upper surface is dark
green and smooth. The inflorescence consists of flowers
clustered in the upper leaf axils and at the stem terminals. The
flowers are yellow, each is about 8 mm in diameter with 5
calyces and 10-12 stamens. The fruit is a dehiscent capsule
about 1-1.5 cm wide, prickly and covered in dense hairs.
Habitat: A common weed of cultivated crops and bush regrowth

in wet areas of the forest legions.
408
Family: TIUACEAE
Botanical name: Triumfetta rhomboidea Jacq.
Common name: Ctiinese bur
Description: An erect, rather variable, shrubby perennial with

slender, branched stems up to 2.5 m high, that reproduces from
seeds. The stem is cylindrical, slender, wot^dy, especially at the
base and hairy with brown, soft, short hairs. The leaves are
and shape. The upper leaves are ovate,
alternate, variable in size
undivided and small, while the lower ones are larger, 2-lobed
and rhomboid, about 15 cm long and 10 cm wide. They have
toothed margins, pointed apices and petioles, are hairy on both
surfaces and 2-4 cm long. The inflorescence is made up of
stalkless clusters of tlowers at the axils of the leaves. The
flowers are yellow, about 8 mm in diameter with 5 petals, 5
calyces and 15 stamens. The fruU is a round indehiscent bristly
ca(>8ule, 4-6 mm in diameter.
Habitat: A widespread weed of waste areas, grasslands and
cultivated fields, common in the forest and the wetter savanna
zone in West Africa.
410
" aterial
FamUy: URTICACEA£
Botanical name: Laportea aestuans ( Linn.) Chew. {^Fleurya
aestuans [Linn.] ex Miq.
Common name: tropical nettleweed
Description: An erect, annual herb up to 1.5 m high, witfi long,

stiff, sometimes stinging hairs that reproduces from seeds. Skin
irritation associated with this weed is considerably milder than
the irritation caused by L. ovalifolia. The stem is hollow,
strongly ribbed and hairy. The leaves are alternate, more or less
spirallyananged, oval, about 10-15 cm long and 8-12 cm wide,
cordate at the base and narrowly pointed at the iqpex. They are
rather coarsely toothed, hairy on both surfaces, prominently
nerved below and with 10-15 cm long petioles. The
inflorescmce is a spreading panicle, shaped like a cone and on
a 20 cm or more long reddish stalk. The flowers are small,
many, whitish-green and about 2 mm
in diameter. The fruit is
a small, round achene about 1 long. mm
HaMlat: A common weed of bush regrowths, cultivated fields
and waste areas in West Africa, sometimes eaten as a pot herb.
412
laterial
Famfly: URT1CAC£A£
Botanical name: Laportea ovalifolia ( Schum. ) Chew
(^Fluerya ovalifolia [Schum. & Thonn.] Dandy)
Common name: tropical stinging nettle
*
Description: A hairy, annual or perennial herb with weak

creeping stems rooting from the nodes that reproduces from
seeds and stem shpots. The stem is fleshy and slender, prostrate
or suberect, pale green to led and covered with short stinging
hairs. The leaves are alternate, hauy and sting when in contact
with the skm. The blades are ovale, about 10 cm loqg and 8 cm
wide. They are coarsely-toothed, pouited at the apex, rounded at
the base and have petioles 3-4 cm long. The inflorescence is a
spike or a catkin with many male flowers on a slender peduncle
about 30 cm long that is leafless and shoots from the axils of the
leaves or directly from the underground stem, while the female
flowers are few and clustered in the leaf axils. The flowers are
small, greenish-white and sessile. The fruits are ovate, fleshy
and conq)res8ed, about 3-5 long. mm
Habitat: A weed of cultivated crops and plantation crops,
especially oil palm and cocoa. It has a preference for moist soils.
It stings and may cause irritation to the skin.
. r
•

415
FamUy: URT1CAC£A£
Botanical name; Pouzobia guineensis Benth.
Description: An erect, branched leafy herb about 90-100 cm

high that reproduces trom seeds. The stem is woody, especially
at the base. It has spreading branches that are either smooth or
slightly hairy. The
leaves are alternate and variable in size. The
lower ones are larger and decrease in size towards the top. The
blades are ovate-elliptic about 5-10 cm long and 1.5-4.5 cm
wide, pointed at the apex, entire at the margins and taper slightly
at the base onto slender petioles about 20 cm long. Both surfaces
may be smooth or hairy but the undersurface is pale and
conspicuously dotted in mature leaves. The , inflorescence
consists of small sessile flowers in clusters at the axils of the
leaves. The flowers are greenish-iKhii^, hairy and small, about
2 nun in diameter. The fruit is a 1 -seeded aciicae.
Habitat: A weed of cultivated fields and open waste areas.
416
ôpy I ighted
laterial
Family: V£RB£NAC£AE
Botanical name: Stachytarpkeia cayennensis (L. C. Rich) Schau.
Common name: rough-kaved false vervain, blue rat's tail
Description: An erect, branched, shrubby perennial up to 1.5 m

high that reproduces from seeds. The stem is 4-angled, woody
at the base, and has slender free branching stems that are
covered with short hairs. The leaves are opposite or sometimes
alternate with short winged stalks. The blades are i>vate to
elliptic in shape, about 8 cm long and 4 cm
wide, hairy on both
surfaces, and rather wrinlUed and prominently net-veined with
rounded or pointed apex, evenly-toothed margins and contracted
at the base. The Inflorescence is a long, slender, hairy spike
about 20 cm long occurring at the shoot terminal. The flowers
are white or lilac with white centres, sessile, with corolla tubes
4-5 mm long and 5-lobed petals (2 large and 3 small) about 4-5
mm in diameter. The fruit is a 2-seeded kernel or nutlet
enclosed by a persistent calyx that is embedded in a shallow
groove in the inflorescence axis.
Habitat: A weed of field crops with a long growing season

(e.g., yam and cassava) and plantation crops, probably
introduced and now widespread in West Atrica.
418
wopy I ighted m
Family: VERBENACEAE
Botanical name: StachytarphetajatmicensisQJm,) Vahl S,
indica [Linn.] Vahl)
Common name: bastard vervain, Brazilian tea
Description: An erect, or straggling perennial herb about 60-90

cm from seeds. The stem is smooth and
somewhat woody, especially at the base; it is dark-green, often
covered with a powder which gives it a bluish sheen (glaucous).
The leaves are opposite and whorled, ovate or oblong-elliptic,
about 4-1 1 cm long and 2-4.5 cm wide, rounded to brt)adly acute
at the apex, widely toothed at the margins, smooth on both
surfaces with short petioles. The inflorescence is made up of
flowers in slender spikes on a long and swollen rhachis about 30-

40 cm long. The flowers are bluish with a white throat and a
tubular corolla about 10 mm long, and lobes about 3 mm long;
they are more or less sparsely grouped along and immersed in
the axis ot the intlorescence.
Habitat: A common weed of field crops, bush regrowths,

roadsides and disturbed places m the higher rainfall forest zones
of West Africa, occurring from Sierra Leone to Nigeria.
420
421
laterial
I
422
PART n (b)
DRYLAND WEEDS
Monocotyledon Weeds of Arable and
Plantation Crops
424
iaI
^ 1
3Sa
c
.5
5
^§ 8
4:5
Family: COMMELINACEAE
Botanical name: Aneilema aequinoctiale (P. Beauv.) Kunth
Description: A robust, densely-liairy herb in forest regrowths

with scrambling or erect stems up to 1 .5 m
high that reproduces
from seeds. The stem is rounded, fleshy and ribbed, and covered
with long rusty-brown hairs. The leaves are alternate, ovate-
lanceolate or ovate-elliptic, about 14 cm long and 6 cm wide,
pointed at the apex, and sliglitiy narrow at the base. It has soft
hairson both surfaces and has many short petioles, with densely,
rusty-brown-haury sheaths that enclose the stem. The
inflorescence is a spreading panicle, 10 cm long and 6 cm
across, sometimes larger, and bearing yellow flowers that have
pedicels up to 1 cm long, and open only between 07.00 and
10.00 his. The fruits are capsules with 2 little horn-like
projections at the comers.
Habitat: A weed of farmlands in the forest zone, commonly

found in shaded areas, and also in plantation crops.
426
laterial
Fanuly: COMMELINACEAE
Botanical name: Aneiletm beniniense (P. Beauv.) Kunth
Description: A perennial herb with fleshy stems up to 90 cm

high. It rq>roduces from seeds and vegetativeiy frcm creq[>ing
stems. The stem is round, creepmg or erect aixl is smooth or
sparingly hairy. The leaves are alternate, ovate to elliptic, up to
24 cm long and 6 cm across, and have entire margins and
parallel veins. The base narrows down ending up in a loose,
tubular sheath which surrounds the stem. The inflorescence is a
dense, terminal panicle about 6 cm across, has pale-lilac or white
flowers, with slender stalks 3-5 mm long and only opens in the
mornings. The fruit is a capsule with small spherical seeds.
Habitat: A problem weed of plantation crops in the forest zone

and widespread in West Africa.
428
laterial
Family: COMMELiNACEAE
Botanical name: Commelina bengkalensis L.
Common name: wandering Jew, tropical spiderwort
Descripdon: A hairy annual or perennial heib, up to 60 cm high,

wilh a succulent stem that nx)ts at the nodes. It reproduces torn
seeds and frmn stem cuttings. The stem is flediy, erect or prostrate,
widi reduced leaves and modified flowen, and some underground
stem. It is tranched and ^Muidy hairy. The feavea are light-green
in colour, alternate, ovate to dliptic, up to 9 cm long and 4 cm
wide, often less than four times as long as they are wide. The leaf
has rusty coloured hauls and narrows &m
to the base Into tubular
sheaths that enclose die slem. The leaf blade has entire margins,
parallel veinsand is sparingly hairy. The inflorescence is made up
of 1-3 flowers with slender stalks enclosed in a ^sile spathe 2 cm
wide and long widi the maigm of the spathe joined at the base. The
flowers have three, bhie peuds, usually two large ones above with
a smaller one below. The flowers open only in the morning and
wither before noon. The fruit is 3-celled with five light-brown
seeds, which are smooth and ridged and about 1.5-5 mm
long aiid
2-3 mmwide. The subterranean flowers also produce seeds (upper
photo).
Habitat: A pan-tropical weed of cultivated fields, waste areas and
roadsides, which is widespread in West Africa.
Other related species: These are Commelina africana L. and C.

erecta L. Commelina africana is similar to C. bengkalensis but can
be distinguished from it by its yellow flowers. Commelina erecta
has two subspecies namely: erecta and livingstonii, both of which
can be distinguished from C. benghalensis by the followiog
characteristics:
i. CommeUna erecta subsp. erecta L. occurs in the rain forest zone
but unlike C. benghalensis^ it does not have an underground stem

with modified leaves or flowers. The leaves are above ground.
They are longer and narrower than diose of C. benghalensis. The
leaf sheadi is free from the rusty haks found in C. benghalensis. It
roots at the nodes (lower photo).
ii. Commelina erecta subsp. livingstonii (C.B. CI.) J. K. Morton

occurs in Uie savanna zone and lias erect stems and does not root at
the nodes.
430
laterial
Botanical name: Commelina diffusa Bunn. f. subsp. diffusa J.
K. Morton (^C. tmdiflora L.)

Common name: spreading daytlower
Description: A creeping, perennial herb with prostrate or erect

stems up to 45 cm high, rooting at the nodes. It reproduces firom
seeds and vegetatively from stem shoots. The stem is round,
fleshy and smooth and has swollen nodes. The leases are hairy,
dark-green, alternate, broadly-lanceolate, about 1.2-4 cm long
and 0.6-1 .5 cm wide. They have entire margins, a pointed apex,
and are slightly narrowed to the base onto more or less short
petioles which end on the dull-reddish-brown hairy sheaths that

enclose the stem at about 1-2 cm above each stem node. The
Inflorescence is made iq) of axillary or termmal broadly-ovate
spathes that have open margins at the base. The flowers are pale
blue in colour, have three petals and open only in the mornings.
The fruit is a 5-seeded capsule about 3 nun long that contains
minute, smooth, white seeds 2 mm wide.
Habitat: A pan-tropical weed of field crops, often found under
shades, on lawns and waste areas.
Other related species: C. lagosensis a closely related blue-

is
flowered species to C. diffusa. The latter differsfrom the former

by having longer leaves (up to 6 cm long) that are rounded at the
base. The capsules have 2-3 seeds instead of the 5 seeds in C.
diffusa.
432
" aterial
Botanical name: PaUsota hirsuta (Thunb.) K. Schum
Description: A robust lierb in forest regrowtlis about 2-4 m

high, that reproduces from seeds. The stem more or less
is rigid,
tleshy or woody at the base and covered with dense, soft brown
hairs. The leaves are arranged in rosettes, mostly at the terminal
of the stem, and are obovate to oblaoceolate, about 15-40 cm
long and 4-11.5 cm wide. They are acute at the apex, and
narrow to the base terminating in flat, densely liairy petioles that
are about 3 cm long. The margins and the midribs have soft
brown hairs. The undersurface of the blade is dark green and
hairy. The inflorescence is a loose and spreading panicle about
10-30 cm many slender whitish-pink lateral
long that has
branches, 1-2 cm long. The flowers are white to purplish and
they open from 16.00 hrs, until dusk. The fruits are glossy and
black.
Habitat: A weed of bush regrowths and farmlands in the forest

zone.
434
Family: CYPERACEAE
Botanical name: Cyperua esculentus Linn.
Common name: yellow nutsedge
Description: A tall, rhizomatous and tuber-bearing perennial

sedge usually growing up to about 60 cm higli and which
reproduces mainly vegetalively from nutlets, but occasionally, by
seeds that germinate while on the spikes. The nuts or tubers are
smooth, rounded and borne terminally on each rhizome. The
tubers do not form chains as is the case with C rotundus. The
stem is smooth and often dark green.
triangular in cross-section,
The leaves are about 30 cm long and 8 mm wide and are
clustered at the base of the stem. The inflorescence may be a
compound or a simple umbel but is always subtended by
conspicuous leafy bracts. The primary rays are long while the
secondary rays are short. The spikes are about 3 cm long and
golden yellow m appearance; a feature that distinguishes tiiis
species from the other nut^bearing sedges. The spikelets are 6-25
in number, golden yellow and each spikelet has 3-8 prominently
nerved papery glumes along each side.
Habitat: A weed ot arable crops, waste areas and roadsides. It

is widespread in West Africa.
436
Co(.j I
y ;od material
437
Family: CYPERAC£AE
Botanical name: Cyperus rotundus Linn.
Common name: purple nutsedge, nutgrass
Description: An eiect poennial up to 50 cm high widi fragrant

iliizomes and tubers. It iqmxhices mainly vegetatively from tubers.
The phuil consists of aerial and underground portions at die iîcal
end of a stem-like basal bulb. The basal leases vary hi number
fiom 6-14 and are about half die lengdi of the terminal intemode
(culm). The aerial part is the vegetative shoot comprising a
pseudostem of tightly clasping leaf-sheaths, a rosette of leaves
arising from the short closely packed intemodes. In a mature plant,
a much elongated terminal intemode (the culm) bears an umbel-like
inflorescence. This intemode is wedge-shaped in cross-section and
bears three terminal small leaves which subtend the flowering head.
The inflorescence is composed of loose, purple brown spikes with
3-8 spikelets. The fruit is an achene and is of very low viability.
The underground portion of the plant is composed of basal bulbs,
tubers and connecting rhizomes and roots. The tubers are
condensed underground stems with numerous lateral buds and scale
leaves. Each tuber has a terminal bud. The tubers are irregularly
shaped, white when young, and progressively change in colour with
maturity from white through a light-brownish colour to black. They
are home in a chain-like manner on the rhizomes. The tubers have
an acrid smell and taste.
Habitat: A persistent weed of cultivated fields and bush regrowths,
which abundant in uiigated crops. This plant is generally
is
regarded as one of the world's most troublesome weeds. It is

wideqiread in West Africa.
Otiicr related spedess Cyperus tuberosus Rottb. (nutgrass) is
similarand occurs in identical habitats as C. rotundus but can be
distmguidied from it by die following characteristics:
i. inflorescence is whitish green (lower photo) while those of C.
rotundus are reddish brown.
ii. Cyperus tuberosus and C. esculentus are both taller than C.
rotundus.
iii. Cyperus tuberosus has tubers in chains on the rhizome as in C.
rotundus but those of C. tuberosus have no odour and are sweet
to taste while the C. rotundus tubers are acrid.
438
Copyrighted
Family: CYP£RAC£AE
BoUuiical name: Mariscus altemifblius Vahl (aJIf. umbellatus
Vahl)
Description: An erect, glabrous, tutted perennial sedge up to 60

cm high that rq>roduces from seeds. It has a semi-roimded stem
arising from a stout, swollen rhizome. The leaves mostly arise
from the base of the stem and have purplish-red leaf sheaths.
They are linear, up to 30 cm long and 2-4 mm wide, and are
rough to the touch at the margins. The inflorescence consists ot
10-15 greenish spikes with stalks of varying length in a simple
umbel, subtended by 4-7 leafy bracts. The spikelets are more or
less globose and about 5 nun in diameter, sometimes they are
elongated into spikes 3 cm long and 1 cm wide. Each spikelet
has 1-2. ribbed glumes.

It is very widespread in West Africa, especially Nigeria.
440
laterial
Family: CYPERACBAE
Botanical name: Mariscus JlabeUiformis Kunth var.
flabelUfomiis
Description: An erect perennial sedge 20-40 cm high, often

densely tufted sometimes with thin rhizomes, which
and
reproduces from seeds. The stem is small, slender and 3 -angled.
The leaves arise from the base of the stem, are linear, up to 30
cm long and 2.5 mm wide, rough at the margins with reddish
overlapping leaf sheaths at the base. The inflorescence is a
simple umbel that has about eight spreading branches 1-3 cm
long, subtended by 4-10 leafy bracts each about 15 cm long.
Each spike has 5-20 sessile and wavy spikelels at right angles to
the axis (rhachilla). The florets are up to 6, slender and fall off
at maturity. The fruit is a linear, reddish brown achene.
442
Copyriytiiou I
laterial
Family: DENNSTAEDTIACEA£
Botanical name: Pteridium aquilinum (Linn.) Kuha
Commoir name: brackenfem
Descri|ytion: An erect, terrestrial fern about 1-3 m high that has

long subterranean rhizomes; it reproduces from rhizomes as well
as from spores. The stem is rather thick, rounded and hairy. The
frond (leaf) is long, up to about 45 cm, compound, triangular in
outline, lobed, with tripimiate or quadripinnatiiied segmmts.

Each leaf is about 12 cm long, widi about 21 pairs of leaflets
that are all fbrtile. The sorl is Unear and is formed at the
margins of the leaflets, and the spores are radially symmetrical.
Habitat: A common weed of field crops in the forest zone, often

found in dense concentratiiMis along die edges of slopes usually
on lateritic soils.
444
445
laterial
Family: POACEAE
Botanical name: Andropogon gayanus Kunth var. gayanus
Conmion name: ganbagrass
Description: A stout, tufted and sometimes bluish looking

perennial grass up to 3 m high that reproduces from seeds. The
stems (cuhns) are stout, erect, rounded above and compressed
below, hairy, often with rhizomes and prop rooted. The leaves
are linear about 1 m long and 3 cm wide, they are widest in the
middle and taper to both ends. The stalks are conspicuously short
and flattened on the upper side. The blades may be hairy or
smooth. They are rough at the marguis and have white midribs.
The sheaths are keeled towards the tip and have no hairs. The
ligules are short, brownish and may or may not have tufts of
hairy fringes. The inflorescence is a large and often leafy
panicle with individual branches about 5-7 cm long. The
spikelets are stalked, hairy and with long awns (1.5-3 cm long).
Habitat: This weed is widespread and abundant m the drier

savanna zones. It is a problem in field crops and walkways.
446
447
laterial
Family; POACEAE
Botanical name: Andropogon tectonm Sdnim. & Thonn.
Common name: giant bluestem
Description: An erect, robust and densely tufted perennial grass

about 3.5 m high which has a markedly bluish bloom, stout and
often dull-reddish, canelike stems, wlidch sometimes have prop
roots at the lower nodes. It reproduces from seeds and also from
basal stem shoots. The leaf blades are up to 1 m long and 7 cm
wide; they are usually widest in the middle and taper at both
ends. The tips are acute and the base narrows into a pinkish or
yellowish false petiole, which may be very long or short. The
sheath is smooth, rather pale-bhi^, and is keeled at the top,
while the ligule is large, rounded, brownish and membranous.
The Inflorescence is a spreading panicle which is many-branched

with pale-blue spathes that enclose the densely-hairy racemes,
that bear the spikelets.
Habitat: A weed of field crops, particularly cassava. It is widely

distributed and abundant in the forest/savanna and Guinea
savanna zones.
448
laterial
Family: POACEAE
Botanical name: Anthephora ampullacea Stapf & C. £. Hubbard
Description: m
A tufted perennial grass up to 1.5 higli tliat
reproduces from seeds and by shoots from slender short
rhizomes. The stems are rounded, slender and smooth or slightly
hairy and the leaf blades are linear, about 15-30 cm long and up
to 5 mm wide, have pointed tips, rough margins, and both the
leaf blades and the sheaths are liairy. The liguJe is distinct, daxk
and haury The inflorescence is made up of slender spikes about
.
8-17 cm long and 3 mm

wide bearing thiclc and rigid spikelets
covered with six bristly and slightly hairy scales, each about 4-6
mm long.
Habitat: A weed of tleld crops common in the derived savaiuia
grassland, waste areas, roadsides and on settled areas. It is also
a problem in lawns in the rain forest zone.
450
Family: POACEA£
Botanical name: Axonopus compressus (Sw.) P. Beauv.
Common name: broadleaf carpetgrass, flat jointgrass
De§cri|itlon:.A glabrous perennial grass with prostrate stems that

root at the lower nodes and send up erect, tufted shoots' that are
about 20-30 cm high. It reproduces from seeds and vegetatively
from stem segments. The stem is a stolon. The leaves are linear,
about 10-25 cm long and 6-16 mm wide, somewhat parallel-
sided and taper at both ends. They have blunt tips anclthe bases
narrow into conspicuously flattened leaf sheaths which are
keeled. The leaf margins usually have a line of hair. The
inflorescence consists of very slender, usually paired racemes
about 4-8 cm long, with the small spikelets closely crowded in
2 rows along the axis. The spikelets are about 2-2.5 mm long.
Habitat: It is a common weed of field crops in the forest zone.
It is, however, useful as a grass for lawns.
452

Family; POACEAE
Botanical name; Brachiariadeflexa (Sdnimach.) C. E. Hubbard
ex Robyns
Description: An erect tufted annual grass up to about 45 cm

high that reproduces from seeds. The stems are rounded and
slender, often straggling, slightly hairyand many-branched. The
ligule is inconspicuous and the sheath is covered with fine hairs.
It has linear lanceolate leaves that taper to a fine point and are
smooth or alightly hairy. They are rounded and almost clasping

at the base. The leaf margins are rough and the blades are about
15 cm long and 1 .8 cm wide. The inflorescence is like a panicle

with branches deflexed backwards on the inflorescence axis.
There are 10-15 branches each 5-10 cm long that bear distantly-
spaced, paured spikelets. One of the pikelets is stalked while the
other is nearly sessile.
Habitat: A common weed of field crops in both the forest and

Guinea savanna zones in West Africa.
454
Family: POAC£A£
Botanical name: Brachiariafalcifera (Trin.) Stapf (=Brachiaria
jubata [Fig. &
De Not.] StapO
Description: A tufted perennial grass with erect culms up to

about 1 m high, that rq>roduces from seeds. The stems are
romxled and are slightly flattened at the base. The leaf blades are
long and linear, about 30 cm long and 4-5 mm
wide, while the
sheaths and the blades have slight or dense hairs. The
inflorescence is made up of about 5-15 well-spaced racemes with
ribbon-like, flattened branches and long brown hair that cover
the spikelets at the margins. The spikelets are arranged m two
rows and have no stalks.
Habitat: A weed of field crops in the norliiem Guinea savanna

zone, it also occurs in pastures.
456
Family: POACEAB
Botanical name: Brachiaria lata (Schumach) C. £. Hubbard
Description: A coarse, hairy, tufted annual with a flat and rather

decumbent stem up to 70 cm high that reproduces from seeds. It
has a roimcied, hairy stem that roots from the lower nodes. The
leayes have linear-lanceolate blades about 5-20 cm long and 0.8-
2 cm wide, are hairy on both surfoces, pointed at the tips,
rounded and clasping at the base with wavy margins. The sheath
•is generally bristly-hairy and the ligule is reduced to a rim that
is densely fringed with hairs. The inflorescence consists of five
or more spikes of obliquely-erea racemes 2-5 cm long with dull
reddish-brown sessile spilnlets.
Habitat: A weed of field crops in both forest and savanna zones

where rainfall is adequate.
458
FamUy: POACEAE
Botanical name: Cenchrus biflorus Roxb.
CommoD name: hedgehog grass, southern sandbur, burgrass
Description: A glabrous, semi-erect annual grass with upright

stems 50-60 cm high, that reproduces from seeds. The stems are
erect, or straggling, somewhat compressed, root at the lo.wer
nodes and occasionally have short stolons. The leaves are linear,
about 15 cm long and 6 mm wide, are sparingly hairy on the
surfiEice but sharp and rou^ at the margins, while they are
whitish and rounded at the base. The ligule is small and rather
transluscent while the sheath is very compressed and smooth.
The inflorescence is a terminal spike that is long, rounded and
bears many stiff, bristly and tenaciously adherent spikelets that
are formed on a disk (upper photo).
Hahitatr A common weed of field crops, roadsides, and waste

areas. It is widespread in the coastal and mland savannas of West
Africa.
Other related species: Cenchrus echinatus Linn is similar to C

biflorus,butdiffersfromtheformer by the presence of prickles.
The spikelets are .united at the base to form a cup instead of a
disk as in C
biflorus. It is found ui coastal districts and ral:ely
outside this area (lower photo).
460
" aterial
Family: POACEAE
Botanical name; OUoris pilosa Schumach
Common name: fingergrass
Description: A tutted annual grass with erect, or straggling

steins up 60 cm higii, tliat reproduces from seeds. The
to about
stems are rounded above but aie slightly compressed towards the
base where they may root at the lower nodes, or develop short
stolons. The nodes are dark and the ligules can be rather
inconspicuous or imperfectly developed. The leaves have linear
blades about 10-20 cm long and 4-6 mm wide that taper from the
base to the tips and are hairy both on tiie surface and on the
margins of the leaf sheaths. The biflorescence is a digitate spike
with about 15 slender branches, 3-8 cm long, with flattened,
hairy spikelets about 2-3 mm
long. They are pale when young,
and turn purplish and finally black on maturity.
Habitat: A common weed of field crops and bush regrowths on

roadsides.
462
FamUy: POACEAE
Botanical name: Chrysopogon aciculatus (Retz.) Trin.
"Bescdption: A prostrate, stoloniferous perennial grass with thick

niat-forming rhizomes that roots at the nodes, ttiqKroducesfrom
seeds and vegetativdy by rhizomes. The stem is slokler, strong
up to 30 cm high, smooth and hah*less. The leaires are linear-
lanceolate, dense, short, about 5 cm long and 6 mm wide. They
are broadly acute, smooth on both surfaces, but scabrid at the
margins. The ligule is inconspicuous and the sheath is glabrous.
The inflorescence is a narrow, branched panicle 5-10 cm long
that contracts when The spikelets are three on a spike»
dry.
narrow, purplish, and about 4 cm long. It is only the middle
spikelet diat bears an awn. Ail tiie spikelets are barbed at the
base thus making it easy for them to stick to clothing, humans
and animals.
Habitat: It was originally introduced from tropical Asia into

West Africa as a lawn grass but has spread as a weed of arable
fields and. pasture. While it makes good lawn grass, the barbs on
the spiketets are a nuisance. It is also present on roadsides in
both the humid forest and savanna vegetation zones.
464
>ôpy ighted
I
Family: POACBA£
Botanical name: Cymbopogon giganteus Chiov.
Description: A tall perennial grass, about 2-3 cm high that

reproduces from seeds. The stem is erect and glabrous. The
leaves are usually of a bluish sheen, and are about 60 cm long,
and 2-4 cm wide. The leaf sheath clasps the stem and the blade
tapers to a fine tip. The inflorescence is a long spatheolate
panicle with a slender pedicel up to 2 cm long. The spikelets are
about 6 cm long, fairly heavy with slender awns.
Habitat: A widespread weed in West Africa, occurring in the

Guinea savanna and in the derived savanna zone from Senegal to
Nigeria.
466
Copyrighted iTialciial
467
Family: POACEAE
Botanical name: Cynodon dactylon (Linn.) Pers.
Common name: Bahama grass, Benmida grass, couchgrass.
Description: A multi-branched, glabrous perennial grass with

spreading rhizomes and vigorous mat-forming stolons. The
flowering stems are up to 20 cm high. It reproduces from seeds
and vegîvely by rhizomes and stolons. The flowering stems
are slender and rounded; and the ligules are inconspicuous. The
sheaths are generally glabrous and they cover most parts of the
barren as well as the flowering shoots. The leaf blades are short
and linear and are about 8 cm long and 3 mm wide, tapering
from the base to the tips and usually blue-green in appearance.
The inflorescence usually has 3-5 slender branches each about
3.5 cm long. The spikelets are rather flat, crowded and
overlapping and are on the underside of the brancb.
Habitat: A common weed of field crops, which is also used as

lawn grass. It is widespread in West Africa.
Other rdated spedes: Cynodon nlenfitensis Vanderyst (giant

stargrass) is a coarse variety of C. dactylon and has stouter and
tough stolons. It has wide leaves but no rhizomes. It was
originally introduced as a pasture grass but is now spreading as

a weed. It is a noxious weed wherever it is not being used as
pasture grass (lower photo).
468
" aterial
Family: POACEAE
Botanical name: Dactyloctenium aegyptium (Linn.) P. Beauv.
Common name: crowfoot-grass
Description: A loosely tulited annual or a short-lived perennial

grass with an erect stem or culm about 20-50 cm high that is
decumbent at the base, rooting at the lower nodes and sometimes

with short stolons, it reproduces from seeds. The leaves are
broadly-linear, about 6-15 cm long and 5-7 mm wide (may be
wider up to 1 cm) tapering trom the base to the tips. The
margins usually have some well-spaced hairs and both surfaces
of the blades have sparse hair. The ligule is small, white and
membranous and the sheath is compressed and keeled especially
at the base. The inflorescence is made up of four digitate spikes
at the terminal of the stem, all are about equal length, 2-5 cm
h)ng and usually at right angles to the rhachis. The spikelets are
densely crowded on the branches and each has bent awns.
Habitat: A common weed of field crops in the forest and

savanna vegetation zones. It is also found in waste areas and
roadsides.
470
Family: POACEAE
Botanical name: Digitaria horizontalis Willd.
Common name: digitgrass, crabgrass
Description: A creeping annual grass with semi-prostrate stems

about 30-60 cm high, rooting at the nodes and reproduces trom
seeds. The stem is rounded, sprawling or erect and branches.
The leaves are linear-lanceolate, 5-10 cm long and 0.7-1.5 cm
wide. They have rough margins, are thin and dark-green, acute
at the tips and rounded or slightly narrowed at the base. The
sheath is keeled and compressed and the ligule is
slightly
inconspicuous and pale. The inflorescence is made up of 10-20
hairy spikes each about 6-12 cm long; about 4 or 5 ot the spikes
are whoried below and the rest arranged horizontally above the
whorl on a common axis that is often hairy. The spikelets are
small, about 2-2.5 mm
long and they usually overlap by about
half their length.
Habitat: A weed of field crops, roadsides and waste areas. It is
widespread in West Atrica (top photo).

Other related species: Two other species of Digitaria that are
common weeds are:
i. D, mtda Schumach (formerly included in D, ciUaris and
D. horizontalis)^ It is very sunilar in appearance to D.
horizontalis, but has long slender ascending non
horizontal racemes which are up to 14 paired. The
spikelets are grey-green and are attached to the ribbon-
like rhachis in pairs and on one side (middle photo).
ii. D. longiflora (Ret.) Pers. It is a creeper and
stoloniferous annual that roots at the lower nodes. It can
be distinguished from D. horizontalis by its small
shortly-linear to lanceolate leaves about 4-10 cm long
and 0.7 cm wide that has hairy sheaths and ligules. The
inflorescence consists of 2-3 small spikes that are
digitate. Each spike bears tiny spikelets on ribbon-like
rhachis (bottom photo).
472
Family; POACEAE
Botanical name: Digitaria gayana (Kunth) Stapf ex A. Chev.
Description: A tufted annual grass about 100 cm high with

weak« hairy stems. The leaves are about 10-15 cm long, often
densely hairy on the blades and along the sheaths. The
inflorescence is variable and consists of U3 or 5 branches of
racemes, each of which is about 15 cm long. The spikelets are
dense and silky and sometimes purplish, about 5 mm long.
Habitat: A widespread weed of the Guinea savanna zone,
comnum in arable fields, roadsides and bush Mows. •
Copyriytiiou iiiaiorial
Famyy; POAC£A£
Botanical name: Echinochloa colona (Linn.) Link
Common name: junglerice
Description: An erect or semi-straggling annual about 60 cm

high, rooting at the nodes, it reproduces from seeds. The stem
is rounded, greenish, sometimes purplish and densely tufted at
the base. The leaves 30 cm long and 7 mqi

are linear about
wide, without hairs and iigules but rough at the margins and
have smooth and slightly compressed sheaths. The Infloreacence
is a raceme, varies in colour from green to purple and has
ascending branches that bear closely crowded ovate spikeiets.
Hafritflit? it is a common weed of field crops, particularly rice.
It grows wide range of soil moisture conditions, from

in a
swampy or hydromorphic soils to dry land.
476
4-7
Family: POAC£A£
Botanical name: Eleusine indica Gaertn.
Common name: goosegrass, bullgrass
Description: A loosely tufted, glabrous annual grass about SO

cm high, thai reproduces from seeds. The stem is erect,
distinctly compressed and flattened at the base from where it
usually branches. The leaves are linear, about 10-30 cm long and
3-^ mm wide, blunt at the tips, sparsely hairy on both surfaces
and slightly rough at the margins, llie slieaths are strongly
overlapplhg, glabrous and keeled, and the ligules are
inconspicuous. The inflorescence consists of sub-digitate spikes
with up to 6 branches on a common stalk (usually at the tip of
the inflorescence axis). Other branch spikes are borne alternately
below the whorl. The spikelets are stiff, light-green in colour
and are arranged on one side of the rhachis.
Habiitat: It is a conunon weed of field crops, roadsides, lawns

and waste areas.
478
vôpy ighted
I
I
Family: POACEAE
Botanical name: Eragrosds atrowens (Desf.) Trin. ex Steud.
Common name: wiry lovegrass
Description: An erect, tufted perennial grass up to 100 cm high

which reproduces from seeds. It has a slightly thick and
rounded stem that is often leafy and occasionally slightly hairy.
The leaves are linear, about 10-30 cm long and 4 mm wide;
they have pointed tips and are sometimes smooth, but mostly
slightly rough to the touch at the margins. The ligule is
inconspicuous and the sheaths are glabrous and striated. The

InfloresoenGe is made up of long ascending branches forming a
panicle 10-30 cm long and often bearing purplish-green stalked
spikelets.
Habitat: A widespread weed of field crops in the savanna zone.
It is also often found in bush regrowths and roadsides. It is

particularly abundant in Nigeria.
Family: POACEAE
Botanical name: Eragrostis ciUaris (Linn.) R. Br.
Common name: lovegrass
Description: An erect, tufted annual up to 60 cm high that

reproduces from seeds. The stems are slender and have black
nodes. The leaves are linear, rather few, about 5-15 cm long and
4 mm wide, pointed at the tip, slightly rounded and hairy at the
base. The ligule is short and membranous and the sheath is
slightly, compressed and grooved. The inflorescence is a dense
spike-like panicle with branches about 2 cm long, cKistered with
pinkish and fluffy spikeieis, 2-3 mm long and fringed with
conspicuous hairs. »
Habitat: A common weed of field crops, waste areas and

roadsides.
482
483
Family: POACEAE
Botanical name: Eragrosiis tenella (Linn.) P. Beauv. ex. Koeni
Schult.
Ccunmon name: feathery lovegrass, bug's egggrass
Description: An annual with delicate, upright or straggling stems

up to 30 cm high, it reproduces from seeds. The stems are
rounded, very slender and often have dark nodes. The leaves
have linear blades, about 8 cm long and 0.5 cm wide; they are
often smaller than those of E, ciliaris, have pointed tips and a
slightly narrow base merging straight into the sheath, which is
glabrous. The inflorescence consists of spikelets that vary in

colour from pale-white to pink, on small open panicles, about 3-
12 cm long with very slender branches. Each of the coloured
spikeiets has a stalk and a fringe of hairs on the upper scales.
Habitat: A weed of field crops in the humid regions of West

Africa.
laterial
Family: POACEAE
Botanical name: Eragrostis tremula Hochst. ex Steud.
Common name: lovegrass
Description: A loosely tufted annual grass up to about 100 cm

high that has slender, rounded stems and reproduces from seeds.
The leaves are linear, abiût 5-15 cm long and have beautiful,
pale, pink to purple, flattened and trembling spikeiets on long
stalks up to 1 cm long. The spikeiets vary in size and may bt
1.5-2.5 cm long but elongate to about 4 cm when fully mature.
Habitat: A weed of field crops in the savanna zones.
487
naterial
Family: POACEAE
Botanical name: Hackelochloa gramdaris (Linn. ) O. Ktze.
Description: A coarse, slightly tufted annual grass about 80-100

cm high that reproduces itself from seeds. The stem is erect,
many-branched and hairy. The leaves have linear-lanceolate
blades, about 5-20 cm long and up to 12 mm
wide rather
coarsely-hairy and clasping the stem at the base. The
inflorescence is a solitary or occasionally paured raceme in leaf
axils. It is about 2 cm long and enclosed in spatheoles. The
spikelets are in two series: the lower one is globose, sessile,
about 1.5 mm long, conspicuously pitted and tubercled. The
upper spikelet is toliaceous (leaty), stalked, about 1.5 mm long
and tused to the nearest internode on the same axis. This grass
resembles RottboelUa cochinchinesis, which also belongs to the
same tribe Andropogoneae as H. granulans.
Habitat: A weed of cultivation; it is widespread in the Guinea

and the derived savanna zones of West Africa.
488
Family: POACEAE
Botanical name: Heteropogon contortus Roem. & Schult.
Description: A perennial bunch grass that can grow to about 100

cm liigh and reproduces itself stem is slender,
from seeds. Tlie
more or less straggling and hairy. The leaves are up to 20 cm
long and 5 mm wide, hairy and taper from the base to the tip.
The spikes are about 6 cm long and the spikelets are about 10
mm long, hairy with spirally twisted awns that form tangled
knots. On maturity, these spikelets stick readily to clothing,
human skin and animal tur.
Habitat: A pan-tropical weed of the savanna zones common in

arable fields.
490
Copyright
491
Family: POACEAE
Botanical name: Uyparrhenia involucrata Stapf
Conmum mane: roofing grass, thatching grass
Description: A coarse, robust annual grass, erect, up to 3 m

high which rq>roduces from seeds. It has smooth, rounded,
ydlow or scmietimes pinkish stems that may have prop roots at
tiie base. The leaves are linear, about 60 cm long and iq> to 1.5
on wide. They have sharp-cuttiiig margins that tend to -roll
outwards when dry, and have smooth surfaces and sheaths,
except that the ligule may sometimes have dense fringe hairs.
The inflorescence consists of several paired racemes that are
partially covered by greenish or pinkish rather papery spatheoles.
The racemes are about 1-2 cm long and are usually not bent
back, although occasionally some may be bent. Each pair of
racemes has a total of 4 long awns aboiit 6-11 cm long, and the
spikelets are up to 1 cm long, they may or may not be hairy, are
stalked and bear minor awns 1-2 cm long (see upper photo).
Habitat: A widespread weed in the Guinea and Sudan savanna

zones throughout West Africa and a problem in field crops. It is
prevalent in the drier soils of the savanna zones. It regrows
nqsidly from a basal clump following a bush fire even before the
onset of the rains and creates problems in both no-till and
conventional tillage crop production.
Other related species: Hyparfhenia ntfa (Nees) Stapf. This is

an annual or short-lived perennial grass that may grow to the
same height as H, involucrata but has much more slêr spathes
that enclose the racemes which are about 2-4 cm long and are
conspicuously hairy with reddish or brownish hairs. The
spikelets are about 3-5mm long and are densely hairy, and each
inflorescence has a total of about 14 slender awns, each 3 cm
long.
Habitat: A common and very widespread weed on tiioister soils

in the savanna zone. A weed of field crops often seen along
roadsides (see lower photo).
492
^
aterial
Family: POACEAE
Botanical name: Hyperthelia dissoluta (Nees ex Steud.) W.D.
Clayton
Coiimiou iiaiue: taiiiborkiegrass
Description: A coarse, tufted perenmal grass, 90-100 cm tall

which reproduces from seeds and flowers soon after the early
rains from June to August. The culms are erect, hard, yellow or
pale pink or may be glossy. The leaves are about 50 cm long
and 1.0 cm wide. They have a blui-sh sheen, are scabrid at the
margins and on the midribs, and taper from the middle to a fine
point at the tip. The is thin and membranous, and the
ligule
The inflorescence consists of fastigiate
sheath bears fringe hairs.
racemes enclosed by yellow, narrow spathes about 4 cm long.
The spikelets are hairy, about 1.5 m long. The awns are not
deflexed, a feature that distinguishes it fcom Hyparrhenia spp.
Habitat: It is widespread in the Guinea savanna zone and

common on roadsides, open and disturbed places. This weed is
suitable for fodder in the early rains, and the culms are used for
thatch and for making mats.
494
495
" aterial
Family: POACEAE
Botanical name: Imperata cylindrica (Linn.) Raeuschel var.
afiricana (Anderss) C.E. Hubbard
Common name: congograss, speargrass, swordgrass
Description: A stiff, perennial grass with erect, slender shoots

up to about 50 cm high, rising from a scaly rhizome. It
reproduces mainly vegetatively from underground rhizomes. The

seeds are of low viability. The stem consists of a dense mat of
rhizomes and above-ground tillers. The leaves are linear, about
30 cm- 1.25 m long and 10-18 mm wide. They are stiff and arise
from the ground level. They have sharp needle-pointed tips and
taper narrowly down to the base ending up in false petioles that
pass straight into the sheaths. The leaf blade is smooth on both
surfaces and the margins are very rough to the touch. The ligule
is inconspicuous and the sheath is massive and fibrous, thus
making it capable of resisting burning. The inflorescence is a
terminal spike-like raceme 6-20 cm long, on a long stalk about
as long as the leaves. The racemes are dense, tight and
cylindrical. The spikelets are silvery-white, fluffy and silky, and
are about 5 mm long.
Habitat: A serious weed of farmland, especially in the forest
transition andGuinea savanna zones. Burning appears to induce
flowering, but the seeds are mostly sterile.
496
Family: POACEAE
Botanical name: Leptochloa filiformis (Lam. ) P. Beauv.
Common name: feathergrass
Description: An erect, annual grass about 20-60 cm high that

reproduces by seed. The stem is erect, glabrous, and divided
into four segments. The leaves are pale, rather flaccid, 10 cm
long, and 1.2 cm wide, tapering from the base to a narrow tip.
The leaf sheath is long, dull-reddish with a tuft of hairs. The

spikes are glabrous, tmged red and about 13 cm long.
Habitat: hitroduced from the Americas into West Africa, but

now a widespread weed of bush regrowth, arable fields and
roadsides. It is common in the forest/savanna transition (derived
savanna) zone.
498
499
laterial
Family: POACEAE
Botanical name: Loudetia annua C.E. Hubbard
Common name: feathergrass
Description: An erect, annual grass about 100 cm high. It
reproduces trom seeds. It has bristly narrow leaves that are

itseit
about 10-15 cm long and 5 mm wide. The Inflorescence is

narrow, ascending and bristly. The spikelets are bristly hairy and
have awns about 8-10 cm long. Some of the spikelets may
sometimes turn black on drying.
Habitat: A common weed of the Guinea savanna zone. It occurs

more on moist soil than in a dry environment.
500
^
aterial
Family: POACEAE
Botanical name: Loudetia arundinacea (Hochst. ex. A. Rich.)
Steud.
Description: A coarse, perennial grass with dense tufts and erect

culms up to about 3 m high, that reproduces from seed. The
stem is rounded, glabrous or hairy. The leaves are linear, long,
about 30-70 cm long and 6-15 mm wide, and taper to a point at
both the apej: and the base. The ligule is fringed with stiff white
hairs and the sheath is glabrous but hairy at the base where it has
silky hairs. The inflorescence is a spreading, loose and large
panicle 20-60 cm long that has golden brown spikelets on
branches that are 5-20 cm long and whorled on the main axis.
The spikelets are hairless, about 1 cm long and have awns 2-3
cm long, or sometimes longer.
Habitat: A common grass weed of field crops in high altitude

savanna areas and hills. It is very abundant in Nigeria.
Other related species: Loudetia annua C.E. Hubbard
502
\
Family: POACEAE
Botanical name: OpUsmenus burmannii (Retz.) P. Bcauv.
Description: A creq|>uig annual grass, freely rooting at the nodes

and sending up erect shoots to about 60 cm high; it reproduces
from seeds and from stems. The stem consists of stolons and
erect shoots that are very slender, rounded and leafy and
enclosed in the sheaths. The leaves are narrowly ovate, wide and
short, about 2-3 cm long and 0.5-1 cm wide. They are rounded
at the base and have sharp tips and are haky on both'surfoces.
The sheath is hauy and the ligule is also fringed with hafrs. The
inflorescence consists of 5-6 short racemes, each usually 1-2 cm
long and all partially on one side' of the rhachis. The spikeiets
are hairy, about 2 mm long and have awns 1-1.5 cm long.
Habitat: A widespread weed of field crops and moist shady

places, usually in the forest zone.
504
Family: POACEAE
Botanical name: Panicim maximum Jacq.
Common name: guineagrass
Description: A robust, densely tufted perennial grass 2.5*4 m

high that can reproduce from seeds and vegetatively from basal
root-stock. The stems are erect, hairy at the nodes and flattened
at the base. The leaf blades are linear-lanceolate, 30-80 cm long
and 4-5 cm wide, keeled and sharp at the margins and often
densely hairy at the base. The iiguie is short, inconspicuous and
membranous and usually has a tuft of dense hairs immediately
above it on the upper surface of the leaf. The sheath is hairy or
sometimes bristly, and it is slightly overlapping or compressed.
The inflorescence is a conically shaped, open panicle 30-80 cm
long. The branches are more or less horizontal and the lowest
ones are whoried, while the upper ones are irregularly spaced.
The spikelets are ellipsoid, have no awns, are generally greenish
and are about 3-4 mm long.
Habitat: A widespread weed of cultivated fields. It is abundant
in short-term fallows and by roadsides.
506
Family: POACEAE
Botanical name: Panicum rêns Linn.
Common name: couch panicum» torpedograss
Description: A coarse* hardy perennial grass with thick creeping

stems (stolons) and erect cohns np to about 60 cm high. It
reproduces from seeds and vegetatively from rhizomes and

stolons. The stems are enclosed by overlapping leaf sheaths. The
leaves are linear and firm and the blades are about 20 cm long
and 5 cm wide, smooth, bluish-green in i^pearance, distinctly
arranged in two rows, have entire smooth marghis and are
slightly rounded at the base. The ligule is short, inconspicuous
and toothed and the sheath is glabrous but is densely covered in
short hairs at the margin. The inflorescence is an open panicle
which is rather narrow and is about 20 cm long. The
spikelets are elliptic, bhutt tipped, pale to whitish-green and
about 2-3 mm long.
Habitat: A weed of rice fields, coastal and inland alluvial
deposits, sandy dunes and disturbed places. It is widespread in
West Africa.
508
Family; POACEAE
Botanical name: Paspatum conjugatum Berg.
Commoniiaine: sourgrass
Description: A glabrous perennial grass with prostrate stems

rooting at the nodes and sending up erect shoots to about 60 cm
high. Itreproduces from seeds as well as from vegetative
runners. The stem is stoloniferous, slender and flattened at the
base, often reddish-purple and has some haurs at the nodes. The
leaves are linear-lanceolate, 6-15 cm long and 10-14 mm wide,
have pointed tips and are sessile and hairy along the margins.
The ligule is toothed and the sheath is flattened at the base, it is
glabrous but may have some short hairs at the margins. The
infloresoenoe is a paur of long and slender racemes about 8-15
cm long and 1 mm wide, each raceme bears two rows of yellow-
green spikelets that are rounded, overlapping, and flat.
Habitat: A troublesome weed of both plantation crops and arable

crops in theiiigh rainfall areas. It pieters damp or shady places.
510
Family: POACEAE
Botanical name: Paspalum scrobiculatum linn. (^Paspatum
orbiculare Forst., = P. commersonii Lam.)
Cmnmoii name: ditdi millet, Indian paspalum, ricegrass

paspalum
Description: A semi-tufted, straggling perennial, up to 60 cm

high that roots at the lower nodes and iqiroduces from seeds.
The stem is usually rounded, flattened at the base, slender,
smoodi and sometimes purplish below. The leaves are Imear,
about 15-25 cm long and 1-1.5 cm wide, rounded and clasping
the stem at the base and may or may not be hairy on both
surfaces. The ligule is membranous, brownish and about 0.5 mm
long; and the sheath is dark-green and has some hair^ at the tips
below the bhides. The infloreflcence is made up of 2-4 or
occasionally she, flattened ribboii-lilee racemes each about 8 cm
long and 2-3 mm wide, whidi bear two rows of rounded and
flattened spikelets about 2 mm in diameter, that are greenish-
yellow, and become dull reddish-brown and fall off at maturity.
Habitat: A
weed of field crops and pastures, but also found in
shady and damp places. Itis widespread ui West Africa.
512
Cc a.crial
Family: POACEAE
Botanical name: Pennisetum pedicellatum Trin
Description: A tufted annual grass widi erect or straggling stems

up to about 40-100 cm high that reproduces from seeds. The
stem is round, branched and may occasionally have some prop
roots. The leaves are linear to broadly linear, about 30 cm long
and up to 1 cm wide, it is widest in the middle and tapers to
both ends, becoming pointed and slightly narrowed at
at the tips
the base. They on both surû:es and the

are slightly hairy
margins are rough and sharp. The ligule is a toothed membrane
and the sheath ii( either hairy or glabrous. The faiflorescenoe is
made up of dense, conically shaped spikes at the tei ininals of the
stem, usually about 5-15 cm long and bearing fluffy, purple or
purplish-white spikelets that are in 1-5 clusters in an involucre
and are surrounded by haury bristles about 1.5 cm long.
Habitat: A weed of field crops, waste areas and roadsides. It is

widespread m the forestrtransition and savanna zones.
514
Family: POACEAB
Botanical name: Pennisetum polystachion (Linn.) Schult.
(including P. subangustum (Schumach.) Stapf & C. £.
Hubbard).
Common name: feathery pennisetum, West Indian pennisetum
Description: An erect, hairy, annual or short-lived perennial

grass iqp to 1.8 m high that reproduces from seeds. The stem is
rounded, often prop-rooCed, more or less grooved and many-
branched. The leaves are broadly-linear, rather variable in size
and hairy, about 10-20 cm long and 0.5-1.5 cm wide; densely to
sparsely hairy or occasionally glabrous and have margins that are
rough to the touch. The and membranous and the
ligule is white
sheath is glabrous to hairy. The inflorescence is made up of
many slender, purplish or pale-yellowish spikes 5-25 cm long
and 2-3 cm wide but often longer or wider. The spikelets are
slender, solitary and sessile and are surrounded by numerous
bristles about 1.5-2.5 cm long.
Habitat: A common weed of fldd crops, old fellows aqd

roadsides in both the ibrest and the Guinea savanna zones. It is
516
517
FamUy: POACEAE
Botanical name: Penmsetum vhlaceum (Lam.) L. Rich.
Description: A hairy annual grass up to 1 m high, usually

straggling which reproduces from seeds. The stem is rounded,
erect or straggling and slightly hairy. The leaves are linear about
15 cm long and 8 mm
wide, pointed at the tip, roonded-and
claspmg at the base, widi hairy surfiEiees and rough to touch
on the margins. The Infloraoenoe is made up of phimp, tliiclc
yellowish or purple spikes about 3-8 cm long and 2-3 cm wide
and is bristly. The spikelets are about 4-5 mm long, may be
solitary or paired and are surrounded by numerous hairy bristles
each 1 cm long.
Habitat: A common weed of field crops, fallows, roadsides and

waste areas in the Sudan savanna zone of West Africa.
518
Family: POACEAE
Botanical name: Penotis indica (Linn.) O. Ktze
Description: A creeping annual grass with prostrate stems

rooting at the nodes and sending up shoots to about 45 cm high
that reproduces from seeds. The stem is slender and slightly
hairy. The leaves are broad, short and lanceolate, clasping at the
base and liairy on the margins. The inflorescence is a purplish
spilce about 5-15 cm long that has awns about 1 cm long, with
more or less crowded spikelets, each about 2 mm in length.
Habitat: A weed ot field crops in the humid forest zone.
520
Copyriyikou material
521
Family: POACEAE
Botanical name: RottboeUia cochinchinensis (Lour.) Clayton
Common name: corngrass, itchgra^s, raoulgrass
Description: A robust, bristly-hairy annual grass about 4 m high

that reproduces from seeds. It has a stout, erect and liaury stem
that often has prop roots at the base. Tl|e leaves are long and
broadly linear about 1 m long and 2.5 cm wide. The leaf blades
and sheaths are bristly and the leaf margins are rough to the
touch. The inflorescence is made up of long, slender and
The spikelets are
cylindrical racemes clustered in the leaf axils.
glabrous and have no awns. They ripen from the tip of the
raceme towards the base. Each mature spikelet contams a seed
and breaks off from the raceme when ripe.
Habitat: This is a weed of field crops in cleared forest and

savanna zones. It is widespread in West Africa and is
particularly troublesome in maize and upland rice.
522
Co(.;y;ad material
Family: POACEAE
Botanical name; Rkynchelytrum repens (Wiild.) C. £. Hubbard
Common name: blanketgrass, natalgrass, natalredtop
Description: A straggling annual grass up to about 90 cm high

that reproduces trom seeds. The stem is slender, often rooting
at the nodes or sometimes prop-rooted. Tht leayes are linear,
have fine tips, are glabrous or sometimes hairy and have sli^ttly
scabrid margins. The ligule is fringed with short hairs and the
sheath is glabrous or sometimes hairy. The inflorescence is a
fluffy panicle 5-20 cm long with slender branches bearing silvery
white to pink hairy spikelets about 2.5-6 mm long.
Habitat: A weed of field crops and waste areas. It is widespread
and abundant m the forest transition and in the savanna zones.
524
Fanuly: POACbAE
Botanical name: Schizachyrium exile Pilger
Description: This weed is an annual grass. Its stem is erect and

slender. The grass grows to a height of about 120 cm. The
leaves are 8-15 cm long, 3 mm wide, and taper to pointed tips.
The inflorescence consists of slender spikes up to about 7 cm
long. It is enclosed in a tough, narrow sheath that is foirly hairy
and becomes dull red on maturity.
Habitat: It is a weed of disturbed areas in the Guinea .savanna
and is more commonly found on gravelly soils.
Other relatecl species: Schizachyrium sanguineum (Retz.) Alston

is a perennial grass with tall, sometimes reddish or yellow stems
that may reach a height of about 3 m. It has spreading
inflorescence and awned spikelets that are about 15 mm long (see
lower photo).
526
FamUy: POACEAE
Botanical name: Setaria barhata (Lam.) Kunth
Common name: bristly foxtail, East-Indies foxtailgrass
Description: A straggling annual grass about 1.5 m high that has

ascending or erect stems rooting at the nodes that reproduces
from seeds. The leaves are dark-green and are stroAgly pleated,
usually about 8-25 cm long and 2 cm wide, .hairy and often
scabrid bodi on the surfoces and at the margins, with a markedly
flattened shfeath that is hairy at the apex. The inflorescenoe is a
more or less cylindrical panicle about 25 cm long that has short
branches each 1-3 cm long and at right angles to the main axis.
The spikeiets are crowded, rough and bristly, but have no awns.
Habitat: A common weed of field crops and waste areas. It is
widespread m West Africa.
528
Family: POACEAE
Botanical name: Setaria longiseta P. Beauv.
Common name: foxtail
Descripdon: An erect, tufted, hairy annual grass up to 30 cm

high that reproduces from seeds. It has weak slender stems that
are often profusely branched. The leaves are usually long and
linear, about 5 mm 1 cm wide
wide, but can st^metimes be over
and are hairy on both surfaces and also have hairy sheaths. The
inflorescence is a loose, conical ly shaped-panicle that has
conspicuously bristly spikelets each about 2 mm long.
Habitat: A widespread weed of field crops, old farmland and
waste areas.
530
Family: POACEAE
Botanical name: Setaria megaphylla (Steud.) Dur. & Schinz
Description: A coarse, erect and robust perennial up to about
4 m high thai reproduces from seeds. The stems are stout and
c:inc-like and have very coarse and robust roots. The leaves are
large and strongly pleated, usually about 1 m long and 10 cm
wide, glabrous but scabrid on the margins and have compressed
and more or less keeled leaf sheaths. The Inflorescence
comprises dense, stiff and erect pyramidal panicles that have
horizontal branches bearing densely crowded spikelets, 3 mm
long, and are subtended by slender wavy bristles.
Habitat: A weed of field crops and moist places in the forest

zone.
532
533
Family: POACEAE
Botanical name: Setaria pumila (Poir.) Roem & Schult.
(=Setaria pallide-Jusca (Schum.) Stapf Sl C. £. Hubbard).
Common name: cattailgrass
Description: A loosely-tutted, straggling annual grass about 60

cm high that reproduces from seeds. It has slender stems that are
generally not branched and have puiple or brownish nodes. The
grass often roots from the lower nodes. The leaves are thin, flat
and soft, usually up to 15 cm long and 9 mm wide. They are
generally glabrous but are sometimes hairy at the base and have
margins that are rough to the touch. The inflorescence is a
terminal, round, spike-like panicle about 2-8 cm long and 1-2 cm
thick, mcluding the bristles. This species differs from the other
Setaria species; for example S. sphacellata, by the shortness of
its panicles. The spikelets are robust, green and have pinkish
awns.
Habitat: A common weed of field crops, waste areas, and

roadsides. It is widespread in West Africa.
534
Family: POACEAE
Botanical name: Sorghastnm bipermatim (Hack.) Pilger
Description: A tofted annual grass about 1.5 m high that

reproduces from seeds. The stem is sparingly hairy, with white
tuft hairs at the The leaves are long and narrow, about 40
nodes.
cm long and 10 mm wide.
The inflorescence is about 10-20 cm
long and narrow. The spikelets are about 5 mm long and 2 mm
wide, hairy and darlc brown to black in colour. The spikelets M
off readily on maturity.
Habitat: A weed ot the Guinea savanna zone. It is widespread

in West Atrica.
536
Copyrighted
537
material
family: POACEAE
Botanical name: Sorghum arundinacewn (Desv.) Stapf
Description: An erect annual or a short-lived perennial up to

about 4 m high that reproduces from seeds. The stems are erect
and cane-like, rounded or sometimes flattened and strongly prop-
rooted. The leaves are large and long, usually up to 1 m long
and 3-6 cm wide, have scabrid margins and rounded bases. The
Inflorescence is a spreading panicle that is loose, with drooping
branches 10-20 cm long, and bearing many spikelets that may
either have awns (0.5-1 cm long) or be awnless.
Habitat: A weed olten found in tield crops in the humid forests,

and derived savanna zones and on roadsides.
538
Copyriytiiou iiiaiorial
539
FamUy: POACEAE
Botanical name: Sporobolus pyramidalis P. Beau v.
Common mmie: cat's tailgrass, West Indies smutgrass
Description: A tough, tufted, practically hairless perelmia^.grass

up to 40 cm from seeds. The stems are
slender, tough and rounded. The leaves are long and narrowly
linear, smooth but with slightly scabrid margins. The sheath is
glabrous but tends to be compressed at the base. The
inflorescenoe is either an open or contrMed panicle with
ascending branches on a central axis, that bears numerous small
green spikelets. The species is variable and is not separable from
5. jacquemontii Kunth.
Habitat: A common weed of field crops, lawns, waste areas and

roadsides. It is found in both the forest and savanna zones.
540
Family: SMILACACEAE
Botanical name: Smilax anceps Willd. {=Smilax kraussiana
MeisQ.)
Common name: West African sarsaparilla
Description: A prickly, perennial climber that has a thiclc
underground rhizome and looks very much like the yam plant,
but is distinguished by its long, twining, interpetiolar tendrils. It

iq>roduces vegetatively. The stem is tough, fibrous to more or
less woody, glabrous, dark green and covered with stiff, short,
recurved spines. The leaves are alternate, ovate to broadly
elliptic, about 12 cm long and 7 cm wide, abruptly and sharply
pointed at the tips, at the base, smooth on
rounded to subacute
bot^h surfaces and with 3 -inconspicuous upcurving veins that
radiiatefrom the base. The inflorescence is a many-flowered
axillaryumbel that has a short stalk. The flowers are greenish-
white, rather small, and about 0.5 cm wide. The fruit is a small
round berry that ripens to a pale yellowish green on maturity.
Habitat: A common weed of field crops in both the savanna and

forest zones ot West Africa.
542
543
laterial
APPEPÎCES
APPENDIX i: Types of inflorescence
DICOTYLEDONS
Axillary flower Racome Spike Corymb (buds inside,

fruits outside)
Panicle Umbel
^m Head or
Capitulum
Cyme (fruit inside,
buds outside)
MONOCOTYLEDONS
Spike Raceme. Paired spike-
Digitate spike Panicle
546
APPENDIX II: Shape of leaves, apices and blades
BLADES
Ovate Obovate Elliptic Oblong Oblanceoiate Linear
APICES
/f\ A
Rounded Truncate Retuse Acute
Attenuate Mucronate Acuminate
BASES
^ ^ f f f
Rounded Truncate Cordate Cuneate Acute Attenuate
547
GLOSSARY OF BOTANICAL TERMS USED IN THE TEXT
a tmall, dry fniit thit does not split wlien npt and contains a
single seed
aculeate covered with prickles
has a long tapeiing point set off abnqitly from the body (e.g.,
as of a ImO
aente his a pointed end diat focms an angle less than a ri^ angle
amplexicaul clasping the stem so as to nearly surround it
akaf tip
aphyOoiis without leaves
apical of the apex
arU a large appendage of the stalk of an ovule or a seed at the

attachment aiea of a seed (ûm) that tends to envelope the seed
a long stiff bnstle as found on q^kelets of glasses
axU Ihe angle between die upper side of a leaf and ttie stem
axiUary in the axil
axis die part of die stem or branch on which the individnal flowers
are borne
barbed has lig^ points or short lateral bristles4»oifld]|g backwards

(e.g., as in leaf margins of some grasses)
basal leaYCi die leaves at the base of a herbaoeoos phmt, arismg lErom several
nodes separated by compressed intetnodes ai groond level
bisexual has both sexes in the same flower or inflorescence

bract a leaf-like part subtending a flower or flower stalk
bracteoles a small secondary braa

bod a growiiig stmctnre at die 1^ of a stem or a braiKh widi
enclosed scale leaves or immature leaves; a young flower which
has nor opened
bulb an nnderground bod covered by fleshy scales
bulbO a small bulb or bulb-like structures produced on the stem, leaf

axils or notches on leaf margins (e.g., as in biyqpfÛum spp.)
calyx the sepal of a flower, calyces pi
548
capitate in a dense dniter or head
fnpHirHff" a small head
cafMote a dry many-seeded fniit made up of more than one carpel aod
splitting open lengthwise or by slits at maturity
carpel a specialized leaf which fonos either all or pan of the pistil
jclllale ftinged widihair
cordate heait-ahaped, with the base indented next to^the petiole, which
is deeply notched
corymb a •flat-topped inflorescence in which the branches or pedicels
. Stan at difTerent points on the inflorescence axis but all reach tp

about the same level
crenate leaf marghu with rounded teeth projecting at right angles to the
edge of the leaf
cirifli the hollow stem of a grass
cnneate wedge-shaped (in reference to leafbaae)
tput abroad, fbit-topped duster of flowen in wluch the ftuits are on

the inside, the flowen foUow and buds are on die outside of the
infloitsoeoce. A corymb has the opposite arrangement for buds,
OxnwtB and fruits.
cystoUth stalked mineral conoetion in some plam cells
decumbent reclining except at the apex
splitting open along definite lines
widi angular teeth projecting at right angles to the edge of the

structure (e.g., leaf)
diffuse spreading widely in all directions
dlgjkale lesemMing the fingers of a human hand

dtoefkmar one of the flowers with tubular coroQfr in die asteraceae family
eUiptic about one and a half times as long as broad, widest in the
elliptical middle and rounded at both ends
ephemeral lasting for a biief period
floret a small flower, the flower of a grass and the enclosing hmcts
(lemna ftnd palea)
549
follicle a dry fruit foimed from a single carpel which contains more
than one seed and splits open along the suture
frond the leaf blade of a fern
fruiticose disimcUy woody, living over t'rom'year to year
glabrous not hairy, without hair
glaucous êred with a white or bluish powder or bloom
globose shaped like a spheie
habitat the type of place, locality or the set of ecological conditions

under which a plant grows naturally
herb a plant which is not woody above ground level
herbarium a collection of pressed plant specimens
hllum the point of attachment of the stallt of an ovule (fhnicuhis) to the

seed
hirsute with fairly coarse more or less stiH hairs
indehiscent not splitting along regular lines or not opening at all
intemode the portion of the stem between two nodes

involucre a series ol bracts surrounding the base ol a flower or cluster of
flowers
linear long and narrow, the sides parallel, tending to be elongated
mucronate ending abruptly iu a short still point
node the point on the stem at which a leaf or brancli is borne
oblanceolate not like a lance, 3 times as long as wide
obovate ovate, with the narrow end at the base

ochrea a mbe formed by coalescence of a pair of stipules around the
stem
orbicular approximately cu-cular
ovate egg-shaped
ovoid oval
550
ofnle the stmctuie vdikh develqpi isto a seed
pappus the apedilized doiraiy biiidy calyx of naoibeEB of ttie
asteraceae (compoiitae or fonflower fiunily)
pedicel the mteraode below a jQower
peduncle a llower-stalk.
petiole aleaf stalk
petiolules a small petiole
pilose haiiy with rather loog simple hairs
procombatl lying prone
ray floret the ilorels of ttie maigin of a flower of tbe asleiaceae wlieii
different from the ccotre or -disk florets
renifom kidney shaped
rhachis
or rachis the principal axis ol ,an inflorescence
scabrid somewhat rough, scruffy
semie toothed like a saw

aesfiie without a stalk
spathe a bract or pair of bracts often large and colored, subtending or

enclosing a cluiiier ol llowers
stellate ^
iiairs star-shaped hairs
stolon a stem that is flat on the and roots at nodes
siiffiruiticose somewhat shrubby
tomentose densely covered with short hairs
umbel a flat-topped infloresence
utricle a little bag
weed any plant which grows spontaneously in managed ecosystems,

and which has a negative impact on human activities
551
t
BIBU06RAFIIY
Beriuut, J. 1907. Ftore du Sinigal, Oainifiiiiiie, Dakar* 485 p.

Beiliaiit» J. 1971. Flore Ubtstrii duSinigdl, OoiivenKoismdelMvdkJppcmeot
runl et de lliydiauBqae, DirBOliQ& dei eavx et fofte, Dakar.
C]ayloii,W.D. 1966. AkeytoNigefiangnsaî.SainaroRBsearGliBaUet^ 1. .
Deuie. I.P.L. and GnOleim. J.L. 1979. te dMerbage du jnofir 4fl1que de m

I'ouest et les prindpaks adventices. I.R.A.T. - C.E.P.E - A.G.P.M..
80p.
EgODjobi, J. 1969. Some common weeds of Western N|g^. BiiDetin of the
Research Division. Ministry of Agricuttore and JNatuial Resoiuces,

Western State,- Ibadan, 40 p.
Hafliger, E. and Scholz. H. 1981. Gross Weeds 1. Weeds o/Ote Subfandfy
Panicoideae. Ciba-Geigy. 142 p.
Hall, J B . Pierce, PC. and Lawson, G.W. 1971. Common Plants of the VoUa
Lake. University of Ghana Department of Botany, Legon, 123 p.
Hulchinson. J. and Dalziel, M.D. 1954-72. Flora of West Tropical Africa (3
volumes). Crown Agents, London.
Hulchinson. J. 1973. The Families of Flowering Plants. 3rd ed. Oxford at the
Clarendon Press. 968 p.

I.R.A.T. 1978. Le desherbage des riiieres en Afrique de I'ouest et leur
principales adventices. L'Associaiion pour le developpement de la
en Afrique de Touest. 96 p.
riziculture
Ivens,G.W., Moody. K. and Egunjobi. J.K. 1978. V/est African Weeds.
Oxford University Press, Ibadan, 225 p.
Lawson, G.W. 1966. PUmt Life in West Africa. Oxford University Press,
Accra. 150 p.
Lowe, J. and Stanfiekl, D.P. 1974. The Phm of Nigeria: Sedges. Ibadan
University Press, Ibadan. 144 p.
Lowe, JandSoladoye,M.0. 1990. Some changes and conecdons to names of
Nigerian plants shioe the publkatioa of ^ra if West Tlvphal Africa and
Nigerian Trees, Tad ed. Nigerian Joumai cf Botany 3: 1-24.
Meilier, H. and Monlegat, J. 1982. Advendces Tropioedes, GBRDAT
Ministir»des relations exiifieures - Coopdratioaet d^veloppeofent. 490 p.
Rose kuKS, R. 1977. A Manual of (Siana Onuses, Oveiseas Development
Administration, Land Resources Division, Surbitoi), U.K., 265 p.
Stanfield, D. 1970. The Flora of Nigeria: Grasses. Ibadan University Press,
Ibadan. 1 18 p.
Teiry. P.J 19^3 Some Conmon Crop Weeds of WestAfricaandikeir Control.
USAID. 132 p.
Townrow. J.E S. 1959. Some Grasses of South Western Nigeria. Ibadan
University Press. 42 p. plus 57 plates.
553
INDEX
Abutilon mauritianum (Jacq.) Amaranthus spinosus Linn. 124.

Medic. 342 148
Acafypha ciliata Forsk. 25Q. Amaranthus viridis Linn. 148
Acatypha fimbriata Schum. & Anacardium occidental 290
Thonn. 25Q Andropogon gayanus Kunth var.
ACANTHACEAE 126-138 gayanus 446
Acanthospermum hispidum DC. Andropogon tectorum Schum. &
Thonn. 44B
Acanthus montanus (Nees) T. Aneilema aequinoctiale (P.
Anders I2fi Beauv.) Kunth 426
Achyrqnthes aspera L. 142 Aneilema beniniense (P. Beauv.)
Acroceras amplectens Stapf 7Q Kunth 428
Acroceras zizanioides Dandy Til Anthephora ampullacea Stapf &
Aervq javanica (Biirm. f.) Juss ex C.E. Hubbard 450
Schult. IM Anthonotha macropkylla P.
Aeschynomene indica Linn. 24 Beauv. 292
African copaiba balsam 296 ARACEAE6^
African cucumber 24iS AspiUa ctfricana (Pers.) CD.
African mosquito fern 12 Adams 164
African wild daisy 112 AspiUa busei O. Hoffm. &
Ageratum conyzoides Linn. 124. Muschl. 166
'
162 ASTERACEAE 8, 160^
air plant 242 Asysiasia gangetica (Linn.) T.
AEOACEAE 14Q Anders 128
Albizia zygia (DC.) J. F. Macbr. ATHYRIACEAE 10
HQ 262
Australian asthma plant
Alchornea cordifolia (Schum & Axonopus compressus (Sw.) P. •
Thonn.) Mull. Arg. 252 Beauv. 452

Alchornea laxiflora (Benth.) Pax AzoUa africana Desv. 12
& K. Hoffm 254 Azolla pinnata R. Br. var.
AUernanthera pungens ILB. & K. africana (Desv.) Bak. 12
146 AZOLLACEAE 12
AUernanthera repens (Linn.)
Link. 146 Bahama grass 468
AUernanthera sessiUs (L.) DC. L balsam pear 246
4- 420
bastard vervain
AMARANTHACEAE4, 142-1 5R beggarweed 324
Amhranthus hybridus Linn. 14S beniseed 168
Bermuda grass 468
555
Bidens pilosa Linn. 168 bullgrass 480
BIGNONIACEAE 202 bush tea 280
billy goatweed 162
black nightshade 402 cadillo 158
black sesame 22£i canterbury bells 242
blackjack I6S CARYPHYLLACAE 208
blackvelvet tamarind 2^ Cassia hirsuta L. 104
blanketgrass 524 Cassia mimosoides L. 294
Blepharis maderaspatensis (Linn.) Cassia obtusifolia L. 106
Heine & Roth, m Cassia occidentalis Linn. 10£
blue rat's tail 41B Cassytha filiformb Linn. 290
Blumea aurita (Linn, f.) DC. I2S cat's tailgrass 540
Boerhavia coccinea Mill. 162 Celosia isertii C.C. Townsend
Boerhavia diffusa L. 12i. 264 150
Boerhavia erecta Linn. 164 Celosia laxa Schum. & Thonn.
Boerhavia viscosa Lag & Rodr. 150
162 Celosia leptostachya Benth. 152
bomvier 14Q Cenchrus echinatus Linn. 460
BORAGINACEAE 204. 206 Cenchrus biflorus Roxb. 460
Borreria octodon Hepper 186 Chamaecrista mimosoides (L.)
Borreria ocymoides (Burm. f.) Greene 294
DC. ISS Chinese bur 410
Borreria verticillata (L.) G.F.W. Chloris pilosa Schumach. 462
Mcy 140 Christmas bush 252
Brachiaria deflexa (Schumach.) Chromolaena odorata (L.) R. M.
C.E. Hubbard ex Robyns King & Robinson 12Q
425, 454 Chrysanthellum afroamericanum
Brachiaria falcifera (Trin.) Stapf Turner 172
456 Chrysanthellum americanum
Brachiaria jubata Fig. & De Not. (Linn.) Vatke 112
Stapf 456 Chrysanthellum indicum (Linn.)
Brachiaria lata (Schumach) C.E. Vatke var. afroamericanum
Hubbard 425, 458 Turner 112
brackenfem 444 Chrysopogon aciculatus (Retz.)
Brazilian tea 42Q Trin 464
bristly foxtail 528 Clappertonia ficifolia (Willd.)
bristly starbur 160 Decne. 120
broadleaf carpetgrass 452 CLEOMACEAE 210, 212
broomweed 148 Cleome rutidosperma DC. 210
Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam.) Cleome viscosa L. 212
Oken 242 Cnestis ferruginea DC. 222
bug's egggrass 484 coat buttons 192
556
cobblers pegs Crotalaria macrocatyx Be nth. HB
COCHLOSPERMACEAE 214 Crotalaria retusa Linn. 12Q
Cochlospermum planchoni Hook. Croton hirtus L'H^rit 256
f. 214 Croton lobatus L. 25S
cock's comb 204 crowfoot-grass 470
coffee senna lOS cubajute 356
Congograss 496 CUCURBITACEAE 244-246
COMBRETACEAE 216-220 Cuscuta australis R. Br. 24B
Combretum hispidum Laws. 216. Cuscuta campesteris Yunckcr 248
22Q CUSCUTACEAE 24fi
Combretum racemosum P. Beauv. Cyathula prostrata (L.) Blume
218. 22Q IM
Combretum zenkeri Engl. & Diels Cymbopogon giganteus Chiov.
22Q 466
CommeUna benghalensis L. 43Q Cynodon nlen0iensis Vanderyst
Commelina diffusa Burm. f. 468
subsp. diffusa J.K. Morton Cynodon dactybn (Linn.) Pers.
432 425
Commelina erecta L. 43Q CYPERACEAE 16-48. 436-442
Commelina erecta subsp. ^recra Cyperus difformis Linn. 3.16
L. 41D Cyperus e rectus (Schumach.)
Commelina erecta subsp. Mattf. & Kuk 32
Uvingstonii (C.B. CI.) and J. Cyperus esculentus Linn. 436
K. Morton 43Q Cyperus haspan Linn. IE
Commelina lagosensis C.B. CI. Cyperus iria Linn. L 20
43Q Cyperus longibracteatus Cherm.
Commelina nudiflora L. 432
COMMELINACEAE 426-434 Cyperus rotundus Linn. 436. 438
common purslane 32^ Cyperus tuberosus Rotlb. 425.
CONNARACEAE 222 425
consumption weed 212
CONVOLVULACEAE 14. 224- Dactyloctenium aegyptium (Linn.)
240 P. Beauv. 425, 470
Conyza sumatrensis (Retz.) Daniellia oliveri (Rolfe) Hutch &
Walker 124 Dalz 296
copper leaf plant 250 DENNSTAEDTIACEAE 444
comgrass 522 Desmodium salicifolium (Poir.)
couchgrass 46S DC. 222

couch panicum 50S Desmodium scorpiurus (Sw.)
crabgrass 472 Desv. 224
CRASSULACEAE 242
557
Desmodium tortuosum (Sw.) DC. Elytrophorus spicatus A. Camus
326 8D
deviPs horsewhip li2 £m///a coccinea (Sims) G. Don
Dialium guineense Willd 298 116
422
Digitaria ciliaris Emilia praetermissa Milne-
Digitaria gayana (Kunth) Stapf ex Redhead 126
A. Chev. 425, 424 Eragrostis atrovirens (Desf.) Trin.
Digitaria horizontalis Willd. 425. ex Steud. 48Q
472 Eragrostis ciliaris (Linn.) R. Br.
Digitaria longiflora (Ret.) Pers 482
472 Eragrostis tenella (Linn.) P.
Digitaria nuda Schumach 472 Beauv. ex Roem & Schult.
digitgrass 472 484
Diodia sarmentosa Sw. 378 Eragrostis tremula Hochst. ex
Diodia scandens Sw. US Steud. 486
Diplazium sammatii (Kuhn) C. Erigeron floribundus (H.B. & K.)
Chr. m 124
Dissotis erecta (Guill. & Perr.) Eriosema psoraleoides (Lam.) G.
Dandy 58 Don 328
Dissotis rotundifolia (Sm.) Triana Eupatorium odoratum L. I2Q
56 Euphorbia hirta Linn 125, 262
_ ditch millet 512 Euphorbia heterophylla Linn 124.

dodder 248 260
ducksalad IID Euphorbia hyssopifoUa Linn. 264
• EUPHORBIACEAE 250-270
East-Indies foxtailgrass
Evolvulus alsinoides (Linn.) Linn
224
Echinochloa colona (Linn.) Link
424. 476 false mallow 346
Echinochloa crus-pavonis Schult. falsethistle 126
22 feathergrass 498, 500
Echinochloa obtusiflora Stapf. 24 feathery iovegrass484
Echinochloa pyramidalis Hitchc. feathery pennisetum 516
& Chase Ficus exasperata Vahl. 360
Echinochloa stagnina.BtRuv. 28 Fimbristylis ferruginea (Linn.)
Eclipta alba (L.) Hassk 3J Vahl 22
Eclipta prostrata Linn. 1, 8 Fimbristylis littoralis Gaudet 3, 24
Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Fimbristylis miliacea Vahl 24
Solms-Laub. 108 fingergrass 462
Eichhornia natans (P. Beauv.) flat jointgrass 452
Solms-Laub. 108 fleabane 124
Eleusine indica Gaerm. 425, 428
558
Cc
Fleurya aestuans (Linn.) ex Miq. HIPPOCRATEACEAE 272
412 horse purslane 140
Fleurya ovalifolia fSchum. & Hydrolea glabra Schum &Thonn.
Thonn.) Dandy 414 50
floating water hyacinth LOS Hydrolea palustris (Aubl.)
Florida beggarweed 226 Rausch. 50
foxtail 53Q HYDROPHYLLACEAE 50
Fuirena ciliaris (Linn.) Roxb. 26 Hyperthelia dissoluta (Sees ex
Fuirena umbellata Rottb, 28 Steud.) W.D. Clayton 494
Hyparrhenia involucrata Stapf
ganbagrass 446 492
garden spurge 262 Hyparrhenia rufa (Nees) Stapf.
gazelle's sesame 266 492
giant biuestem 44S Hypoistes cancellata Nees. 122
|
giant sensitive plant 112 HypoHstesforskalei (Vahl) Soland.

giant stargrass 468 ex Roem. & Schult. 134
goatweed 162 Hypoestes verticillaris (Linn.f.)
Gomphrena celosioides Mart. 156 L14
goosegrass 4Zis Hyptis lanceolata Poir. 276
guardian of mosquitoes 278 Hyptis spicigera Lam. 278
guineagrass 506 Hyptis suaveolens Poit. 280
Hackelochloa granularis (Linn.) Icacina trichantha Oliv. 274

O. Ktze. 488 ICACINACEAE 274
haemorrhage plant 164 balsam 296
Ilorin
hairy indigo 12Q Imperata cylindrica (Linn.)
hairy beggar ticks 168 Raeuschel var. ctfricana
hedgehog grass 46Q (Anderss.) C.E.Hubbard 496
Hedysarum scorpiurus Desv. 224 Indian heliotrope 204
Heliotropium indicum Linn. 204 Indian paspalum 512
Heliotropium ovalifoUum Forsk Indigofera hirsuta Linn. var.
206 hirsuta 220
Heteranthera caUifolia Rchb. ex Ipomoea aquatica Forsk. 14
Kunth h 110 Ipomoea asarifolia (Desr.) Roem.
Heteropogon contortus Roem & & Schult. 228
Schult 490 Ipomoea eriocarpa R. Br. 220
Heterotis rotundifolia (Sm.) Jac. Ipomoea involucrata P. Beauv.
F6I. 26 222
Hewittia sublobata Linn. 226 Ipomoea mauritiana Jacq. 224
Hibiscus asper Hook. f. 244 Ipomoea repens Lam. 228
hibiscus bur 258 Ipomoea triloba Linn. 226
Hippocratea indica Willd. 272 Ipomoea vagans Bak. 228
559
Ipomoea webbii Coutinlio 236 LEGUMINOSAE:
ironwced 194. 19L 2QQ CAESALPINIOIDEAE 292-
Ischaemum rugosum Salisb. 82 308
Isoberlina doka Craib &, Stapf LEGUMINOSAE:
MIMOSOIDEAE 52, 310-
itchgrass 222 316
LEGUMINOSAE:
Japanese tea 294
PAPILIONOIDEAE 54.318-
junglerice 476
338
Jussiaea abyss inica (A. Rich.)
Leonotis nepetifolia (L.) Ait. f.
Dandy & Brenan 62 282
Jussiaea decurrens (Walt.) DC. Leptochloa caerulescens Stsud. 86
64 Leptochloa filiformis (Lam.) P.
Jussiaea linearis Willd. 6B
Beauv. 498
Jussiaea Unifolia Yahl 66
Leucas martinicensis (Jacq.) Ait.f.
Justicia flava (Forsk.) Vahl 116 284
khakibur 146
lion's ear 282
khakiweed 146
lion's tail282
little ironweed L96
knot weed 104
Kyllinga bulbosa Beau v. 3D
LOGANIACEAE 340
longfruited primrose 68
Kyllinga erecta Schumach. var.
loofah 244
erecta 32
loofah gourd 244
Kyllinga pumila Michx. 34
Loudetia annua C.E. Hubbard
Kyllinga squamulata Thonn. ex
502
Vahl 36
Loudetia arundinacea (Hochst.
Lactuca taraxacifolia (Willd.) ex. A. Rich.) Steud. 502
Schum. ex Hornemann, ISO lovegrass 482. 486
lady's thumb ID4 Ludwigia abyss inica A. Rich. L
Laggera aurita (Linn, f.) Benth. 62. 68
ex C. B. CI. m Ludwigia decurrens Walt. Syn.
LAMIACEAE 276-288 64. 68
Laporiea aestuans (Linn.) Chew Ludwigia erecta (L.) Hara 68
124. 412 Ludwigia hyssopifoUa (G. Don.)
Laportea ovalifolia (Schum.) Exell 66
Chew 412, 414 Ludwigia octovalvis (Jacq.) P.
Launaea cornuta (Olive. Hiern) Raven 68
C. Jeffrey L5Q Luffa aegyptiaca Mill 244
Launaea taraxacifolia (Willd.) Luffa cylindrica (Linn.) M.J.
Am in. MS ex C. Jeffrey L30 Roem. 244
LAURACEAE 29Q Mallotus oppositifolius (Geisel)
Leersia hexandra Sw. 84
Mull. Arg. 266
560
MALVACEAE 342-358 Newbouldia laevis (P. Beauv.)
Malvastrum coromandelianum Seemann ex Bureau 202
(Linn.) Garcke 346 nodeweed 188
Manniophyton Julvum Mull. Arg. nutgrass 438
26S NYCTAGINACEAE 362, 164
Mariscus alternifolius Vahl. 424. Nymphaea lotus Linn. 60
440 Nymphaea maculata Schum. and
Mariscusjlabelliformis Kunthvar. Thonn. 60
flabelliformis 442 NYMPHAEACEAE 60
Mariscus longibracteatus Cherm.
as Ocimum basiUcum L. 248
Mariscus scaber Zucc. IB Oldenlandia corymbosa Linn. 182
Mariscus umbellatus Vahl 44Q Oldenlandia herbacea (Linn.)
Melanthera scandens {^cYiMm. & Roxb. 184
Thonn.) Robcrty 182 ONAGRACEAE 62^
MELASTOMATACEAE 56, 58 Oplismenus burmannii (Retz.) P
Melastomastrum capitatum (Vahl) Beauv. 504
A. & R. Fern. 58 Oryza barthii A. Chcv. 88
Melochia corchorifolia Linn. 118 Oryza breviligulata A. Che v. &
Merremia aegyptia (Linn.) Urban Roehr. 88
24Q Oryza longistaminata A. Chev. &
Mexican sunflower 15Q Roehr. 90
Mimosa invisa Mart. 112 Oryza stapfii Roshev. 88
Mimosa invisa var. inermis
Adelb. 312 Palisota hirsuta (Thunb.) K.
Mimosa pigra Linn. 112 Schum. 414
Mimosa pudica Linn. 114 Panicum laxum Sw. 91
MIMOSACEAE 36Q Panicum maximum Jacq. 506
Mitracarpus scaber Zucc. 18Q Panicum repens Linn. 508
Mitracarpus villosus (Sw.) DC. Panicum subalbidum Kunth 94
38Q Paspalum commersonii Lam. 512
Momordica charantia Linn. 246 Paspalwn conjugatum Berg. 510
Monechma ciliatum (Jacq.) Milne- Paspalum orbiculare Forst. 512
Redhead 138 Paspalum pofystachyum R. Br. 96
MORACEAE 360 Paspalum scrobiculatum Linn. 3^
morning glory weed 212 96, 512
Paspalum vaginatum Sw. 98
natalgrass 524 PEDALIACEAE 366
natalredtop 524 Pennisetum pediceUatum Trin.
Neptunia oleracea Lour. 22 2U
561
Pennisetum polystachion (Linn.) Pupalia lappacea (Linn.) Juss.
516
Schult. 15S
Pennisetum subangustum purple nutsedge 43S
(Schumach.) Stapf & C.E. purple witchweed 394
Hubbard 516 Pycreus flave see ns (Linn.)
Pennisetum violaceum (Lam.) L. Reichnb. L 40
Rich, m
Pentodon pentandrus (Schum. &
Pycreus lanceoiatus (Poir.) C.B.
CI. 40
Thonn.) Vatke 3, L12
Peperomia pellucida (L.) H B. & raoulgr^ss 522
K. 2IQ rattlebox 320
Perotis indica (Linn.) 0. Ktzc. red spiderling 364
52Q red witchweed 394
Phyllanthus amarus Schum. & Reissantia indica (Willd.) Hall6
Thonn. 27Q 222
Physalis angulata Linn. 396, resurrection plant 242
Physalis micrantha Linn. 358 Rhynchetytrum repens (Willd.) C.
Piliostigma thonningii (Schum.) E. Hubbard 524l
Milne-Redhead 302 Rhynchospora corymbosa (Linn.)
pinkweed MQ Britt. 42
PEPERACEAE 32Q ricegrass paspalum 512

Pistia stratiotes Linn. 6 roofing grass 492
Platostoma africanum P. Beauv. Rottboellia cochinchinensis
2S6 (Lour.) Clayton 425, 522
POACEAE 70-102. 446-540 rough-leaved false vervain 418
POLYGONACEAE 104. 106 RUBIACEAE 112, 378-390
Potycarpaea corymbosa (Linn.)
Lam. 208 Sacciolepis africana Hubb. &
Polygonum lanigerum R. Br. var. Snowden 100
africanum Meisn. 104 salvinia UA
Polygonum salicifoUum Brouss. Salvinia nymphellula Desv. 114
ex Willd. LOfi SALVINL\CEAE LL4
PONTEDERIACEAE lOL UO sandpaper tree 360
Portulaca oleracea Linn. 124. Schizachyrium exile Pilger 526
222 Schizachyriumsanguineum (Retz.)
Portulaca quadrifida Linn. 324 Alston 526
PORTULACACEAE 322 Schoenoplectus senegalensis
Pouzolzia guineensis Benth. 416 (Hochst. ex Steud.) Palla 44
prickly solanum 404 Schrankia leptocarpa DC. 316
primrose-willow 68 Schwenckia americaruz L. 400
Pteridium aquilinum (Linn.) Kuhn Scirpus jacobi C.E.C. Fisher 44
444 Scleria naumanniana Boeck. 46
562
Scleria verrucosa WUld. 48 Soianum torvum Swartz 404
Sclerocarpus itfhcanus Jacq. ex Solenostemon monostachyus (P.
Mnrr. 184 Beauv.) Brig, subsp.
Scoparia Mds Lum. 392 monostachyus
SCROFHULARIACEAE 392. Sorghastntm Mpemtatim (Hack.)
394 Pilger 536
Senna hirsuta (Linn.) Irwin it Sbrghum anauUnacenm (Desv.)
Barneby 304 Slipf538
Senna oblusÛa (L.) Irwin A sourgrtts 510
Bameby 306 460
southern sandbur
Senna ocddemalis (L.) Link 308 Speai8n8s496
sensitire plant 314 Spermacoce octodon (Hepper)
sesame 368 Lebrun A Sttnk. 386
Sesamm aUam Thonning 366 Spermacoce ocymoides Burm .f
Sesamm indiam Linn. 368 388
sessile joyweed 4 ^rmacoce vertialkaa Linn.
Setaria barbala (Lam.) Kunlh425 (fiorreria verHdUala) fji,]
Setaria longlseia P. Beauv. 530 G.F.W. Mey) 390

Setaria megapkyUa (Steud.) Dur ^pkenoctea zeybuUca Oaerm. 3,
&Scliinz532 116
Setaria pallide-fusca (Schum.) SPHENOCLEACEAE 116
Stapf &C. E. Hubbard 534 Spigelia anthelmia Linn. 340
Setaria pumila (Poir.) Roem & Spilanthes fjiicaulis (Schum. &
534
Schult. Tbonn.) CD. Adams 186
Setaria sphacelUua 534 spiny amaranth 148
siamweed 170 Sporoholuspyramidalis P. Beauv.
Sida acuta Burm. f. 348 540
Sida cordifolia Linn. 350 spreading dayflower 432
Sida corymbosa R.E. Fries 352 spurge weed 260
Sida jârckeana Polak. 352 Stachytarpheta cayennensis (L. C.
Sida linifolia Juss ex Cav. 354 Rich) Schau. 418
Sida rhombifolia L. 356 Stachytarpheta indica (Linn.)
slender knotweed 106 Vahl 420
slLMider smartweed 106 Stachytarpheta jamaicensis
slender wildcape gooseberry 398 (Linn.) Vahl 420
smartweed 104 starwort 188
SMILACACEAE 542 STERCULIACEAE 118. 406
Smilax anceps Willd. 542 spider plant 212
Smilax kraussiana Meisn. 542 stinking cassia 304
snakeweed 262 Striga asiatica (L.) O. Ktze. 394
SOLANACEAE 396-404 Striga gesnerioides (Willd.) Vaike
Solanum nigrum L. 402 394
563
îga hermontMca (Del.) BeMh VERBENACEAE 418. 420
394. Vemonia ambigm Kotichy A
swamp mommg-glory 14 Peyr 194
sweet broomweed 392 Vernonia cUierea (UmL) Less.
swordgrass 496 196
synedrella 188 Vemonia galameiuis (Cass.) Less.
Synedrelia nod^ra Gaerta. 188 198
Vernonia pauciflora Willd. 198
Talinum trianguUure Clacq.) Willd. Vemonia perrottetii Sch. Bip. 200
124, 376 Vossia cuspklala Griff. 102
tamborkiegrass 494
tarvine 362 Waltheria indica Linn. 406
tea senna 294 wandering Jew 430
ten o'clock plant 374 water hyacinth 108
Tephrosia bracteolata Guili. & water spinach 14
Perr. 332 water lettuce 6
Tephrosia linearis (Willd.) Pers. waterleaf 376
334 waterliiy 60
Tephrosia pedicellata Bak. 336 water primrose 62, 64, 66
thatching grass 492 watervelvet 12
thoray pigweed 148 West African sarsaparilia 542
TEJACEAE 120, 408 West Indian pennisetum 516
Wumia divengbBa (Hemsl.) A. West Indies smmgnss 540
Gray 190 wildrice90
tobacco wilcfaweed 394 wild beast's sesame 366
torpedograss 508 wild bush tea 284
tree marigold190 wild spikenard 280
Trianthema portuiacastnm Limi. wild poinsettia 260
140 wildciq)e goosebeny 396
tridaxl92 wildletmce 180
Tridax pmcumbens Uatu 3 192 wireweed 356
Triun^tta cordifbUa A. Rich. 408 wiry lovegrass 480
THunêtta rhomboidea Jacq. 410 worm bush 340
tropic ageratum 162
tropical nettle weed 412 yellow nutsedge 436
tropical spiderwort 430 yellow tasselflower 176
tropical stinging nettle 414
turkey berry 404 Zornia lattfoUa Sm. 338
turnsole 204
Urena lobata Linn. 358

URTICACEAE 412-416
564
f
I. Okezie Akobundu is a Weed Scientist. He was for twenty

years a Senior Weed Scientist at the International Institute of
Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Nigeria. During his
professiooal career at DTA, he worked oil both bask and applied
aspects of weed management and research. He has made an
enormous contrflnition to oor present understanding of tropical
weeds and their control and has supervised the thesis research of
more than twenty-five postgraduate students in weed science.
Professor Akobundu has served in many national and
international commitlees on weed mamiganent. He has
contributed many technical papers on weed management and is
tiie antfaor of two books on tropical weeds. His widely used
textbook Weed Science in the Tropics: Principles and Practices

has been well received. While this textbook covers principles and
practices of weed science, a companion text, A Handbook of
West African Weeds, provides both the student and the
agricultural practitioner with a practical guide to the weeds of
West Africa. Dr. Akobundu is presently a Professor of Weed
Science at New York State University in Albany, New York.
C. Winston Agyakwa is a Plant Taxonomist. He was a Research

Associate at m'A for more than thirteen years* during which
period, he and Professor Akobundu wrote die first edition of i4
Handbook of West African Weeds. Before working at UTA, Mr.
Agyakwa was the Curator at the Herbariiun of the University of
Cape Coast in Ghana. He studied plant systematics at the
University of Oxford, and herbarium taxonomy and admin-
istration at theRoyal Botanical Gardens, Kew, Great Britain.
He a Fdlow of the Linnean Society and a meinbdr of the
is
Association fat the Taxonomic Studies of the Flora of Africa

(AETFAT). He is currently based in Ghana, his home country,
as a consultant on tropical plants.
PMB 5320, Oyo Road. Ibadan. Nigeria
ISBN 978-131-129-0

BOOK A Handbook of West African Weeds (IITA)

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BOOK A Handbook of West African Weeds (IITA)

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Copyright:

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\ HANdbook of

West AFrican WeecIs

The Imeniatioiial Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) was founded

The Intemational Insdtute of Tro|rical Agriculture is governed by an

The Intemational Institute of Tropical Agriculture conducts research*

and crop management issues- widun a fimning systems network. Hie

International Institute of Tropical Agriculture

First Edition, 1987

Second Edition, 1998

Edited and typeset in Nigeria by

Printed at 1NT£C Printers, Ibadan

Weeds nf Inwlnnd rice

demand for it throughout West Africa has been so widespread

described. The second edition, therefore, provides a better

We take this opportunity to thank Professor Joyce Lowe

cooperation of the officials of the Forestry Research Institute in

Ibadan, Nigeria who allowed us free access to tiie Forestry

support we have received from the management of IITA in

opportunity also to thank Professor P. C. Njoku, Vice-

Federal Univbrshy of Agriculture I. Okezie Akobundu

In the beginning, there were no weeds. All plants grew in their

to meet his agricultural and recreational needs in conformity with

too troublesome, for example, Iniperaia cylindrica, or had

response to the natural onward march of civilization has called

Merlier and Montegut, 19S2 and Terry, 1983). Each of these

which will cover a cross-section of weeds found in the region.

in most of the countries from Senegal to Nigeria and have

experience also included fallow species that we know as

section for Pteridophytes. The authors have made a detibeiale

leaf forms the economy of words strongly fiivors stiop^taid

botanical terms. To this end we have included line drawings of

to attempt giving local names to weeds in a text of this nature.

with specific weeds.'

ministries of Agriculture in the Republics of Benin, Ghana, Ivory

Coast and Togo.

My co-author, Mr. Winston Agyakwa, a Research Associate in

the decisions on what weeds should be mchided or excluded, aipd

on the format and organization of the book.

February 1987 I. okbzib Akdbundd amd

Description: A semi-prostrate annual herb with erect shoots up

Habitat: A weed of shady, damp soils in cultivated and waste

Common name: water lettuce

Description: A free-floating aquatic herb witli diiclc, succulent

Description: An erea, bnmched annual herb up to 60 cm high,

Habitat: A weed of damp and poorly drained soils, in paddy

Descriptioii: An erect, rbizomatous aquatic fern up to about 1m

tropics. The stem is a rhizome. The leaves consist of erect

Habitat: An understorey plant of moist or wet areas sometimes

Description: A small, free-floatiog aquatic fern often growing in

Habitat; A comuKMi weed of ponds, dams, lakes and rice

Common name: swamp morning-glory, water spinach.

Description: A hairless, aquatic perennial with milky latex and

seeded. The seeds are brown, about 7 mm long and 4 mm wide

Habitat: A common aquatic weed of poorly dramed soils, often

Description: An erect densely tufted annual sedge about 30-

triangular,smooth and about 1-4 mm thick. It has linear basal

Habitat: A common weed of wet soils and rice paddies.

Description: A tutted, sometimes rhizomatous perennial sedge

a compound umbel that is about 10-15 cm long. When mature,

Habitat: A weed of wet places and poorly drained soils. It is a

Description: A tufted annual sedge up to 75 cm high that

Habitat: A widespread sedge occurring as a weed at the edges

Description: An erect, tutted perennial sedge about 75 cm high