Importance

Common throughout the UK. In arable crops, usually appears as a young plant but can be a problem in set-aside and perennial crops.

1. Cotyledons oval and small.

2. First leaves bristly hairy, only slightly toothed. Later leaves more deeply divided and pointed.

3. Tall perennial to 150 cm. Stem reddish-brown and leaves deeply divided - dark green above and white below. Very numerous and small yellowish to reddish brown flowers on long spikes.