Fumitory

Fumaria muralis

Fumitory (Fumaria muralis) is a weak-stemmed scrambling and climbing annual weed with purple/pink tubular flowers. It is common throughout New Zealand and is a significant weed of crops (especially cereals) as it can smother crops if not controlled.

Scrambling fumitory (Fumaria muralis) is widespread throughout New Zealand. Has long but weak stems that scramble and gain support from other plants. In favourable conditions can grow rapidly and smother slow growing crops like fodder beet.

Cotyledons:

Spear shaped, long and slender
Base tapered and stalkless

Leaves:

Long stalked with 3 leaflets
Featherlike

Has distinctive pink tubular flowers that are purple at the ends.

Related Pests

Field Pansy

Viola arvensis

Field pansy (Viola arvensis) resembling the garden variety pansy, the field pansy grows year round in parts of the North Island, but more commonly in the South Island. It grows in planted paddocks, on waste land and road-sides. Its seeds are similar to those of some forage seed crops making separation of seeds problematic. The plant grows close to the ground when young; when older stems can grow upwards to about 30 cm. The flowers are small, with five petals – two upper petals with a tinge of blue/violet, and the lower three petals pale yellow. Oval shaped mid green coloured leaves in a rosette formation have a shallow toothed edge. Seeds are light brown, oblong and approx. 1.5 mm long, encased in an oval pod.

Henbit

Lamium amplexicaule

Henbit (Lamium amplexicaule) is a purple-flowered weed that is commonly present in cropping areas in the South island. It is a slender annual that grows to 30 cm tall with purple whorl shaped flowers.

Shepherds Purse

Capsella bursa-pastoris

Shepherd's purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) is a rosette annual with distinctive flower stems that grow to 30 cm high. It is very common throughout New Zealand in cultivated soil and is conspicuously present in the winter although it can germinate at any time through the year.