White Campion

Silene latifolia

A hairy perennial that grows to 1m tall, White Campion (Silene latifolia) have stalkless upper hairy leaves in opposite pairs. Leaves are oval with pointed tips. The flowers grow in clusters and each flower has five bi-lobed white petals. Male and female flowers are on different plants The calyx is long and inflated, pale green in colour sometimes with brownish-purple veins showing, but narrower than that seen in Bladder Campion. White Campion is found in Wellington and most parts of the South Island on waste areas, arable land, pasture and river-beds.

Related Pests

Wild Radish - Charlock

Raphanus raphanistrum

Wild radish or Charlock (Raphanus raphanistrum) is a rapidly spreading, invasive, frost hardy plant found throughout New Zealand, except in Taranaki. Annual or biennial, it is usually found growing on roadsides, waste grounds and disturbed ground. It grows to 80 cm tall, and during October to April has white yellow or lilac flowers 15-20 mm with 4 petals. The leaves and stems are dark green, rough and bristly. Pods develop up to 6 cm long, containing 5 to 8 seeds which can break into individual sections.

Wild Turnip

Brassica rapa subsp. sylvestris

A member of the Brassicaceae family, wild turnip (Brassica rapa subsp. sylvestris) is a persistent annual found in arable crops in Canterbury and Southland, and throughout New Zealand. Sometimes known as field mustard, the lower leaves have bristly hairs and are divided into pairs of lobes on the lower half of the leaf, whilst the upper part is one large terminal lobe. The upper leaves are smooth and lance-shaped. The flowers are bright yellow with four petals. The open flowers are at the top of the branched stems; the unopened buds below. The flowers later form linear pods.

Willow Weed

Persicaria maculosa

Willow weed (Persicaria maculosa) is an erect and sprawling summer growing annual that can be a serious weed in crops (e.g. maize). It has reddish stems and pink spike like flowers. It is common in the spring and summer throughout New Zealand but is quickly killed by frosts. A similar species, water pepper, grows taller and is common in wet places.