Spurrey

Spergula arvensis

Spurrey (Spergula arvensis) is a fine-stemmed, sprawling annual weed which is commonly found throughout New Zealand. It can often grow dense. Severely competing with and smother crop seedlings and establishing pastures. Spurrey germinates in the autumn and spring.

Spurrey (Spergula arvensis) is common throughout New Zealand. Germinating in the spring and autumn and typically in dense populations, Spurrey can suppress establishment and significantly compete with developing crops.

Cotyledons:

Very slender
Needle shaped
Diagonally upward

Leaves:

Rod-like
Pointed

Spurrey is a sprawling annual that grows upright to 30 cm tall. Stems are thin, a brownish colour with sticky hairs. The leaves are green, needle and succulent like with blunt tips and produced in whorls on the stem. Single white star like flowers are produced with five petals and up to 8 mm wide.

Related Pests

Cornbind

Fallopia convolvulus

Cornbind (Fallopia convolvulus) also known as Black-bindweed, is a climbing, spreading vine that grows to 1 – 1.5 m long with stems that twine clockwise around other plant stems. The leaves are arrow-shaped up to 9 cm long by 6 cm wide. The flowers (November to April) are pale green, small and grow in clusters closer to the ends of the stems. Seeds are triangular and shiny black. Cornbind is more commonly found in the South Island (South Canterbury), but is showing up increasingly in cultivated areas in Hawkes Bay and Wellington.

Fathen

Chenopodium album

Fathen (Chenopodium album), pronounced fat-hen and sometimes called fat hen, is one of the most serious weeds of cropping throughout New Zealand. It is an annual that germinates in the spring and early summer and then dies off in the autumn with frosts. Fathen is an extremely vigorous weed that can quickly outcompete and smother crops. An upright plant that can grow to 2 m tall and is a prolific seeder.

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.