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Puncture vine (Goatheads)Puncture vine is a hardy, spiny plant that can cause injuries and is used in traditional medici...
05/16/2026

Puncture vine (Goatheads)

Puncture vine is a hardy, spiny plant that can cause injuries and is used in traditional medicine for various health benefits.

Puncture vine is a low-growing, prostrate herbaceous plant with stems radiating from a central crown, forming flat patches up to 1 meter in diameter. Its leaves are opposite and pinnately compound, with densely hairy leaflets. The plant produces small yellow flowers, 4–10 mm wide, with five petals, five sepals, and ten stamens. After flowering, it develops hard, spiny fruits called burs, which split into five nutlets, each bearing 2–4 sharp spines capable of puncturing skin, shoes, and bicycle tires.

The spiny burs make puncture vine a noxious w**d. They can injure bare feet, damage tires, and harm livestock if ingested. The plant contains saponins, which are toxic to animals and can pose health risks to pets like cats and dogs if consumed. Its invasive nature allows it to thrive in dry, disturbed areas, making management important to prevent spread.

Russian thistleWhen Russian thistle arrived in North America around 150 years ago, it presented huge problems, particula...
05/16/2026

Russian thistle

When Russian thistle arrived in North America around 150 years ago, it presented huge problems, particularly for farmers. It’s less troublesome today, though it does still pose some threats.

For example, a field thick with Russian thistle can aid in the spread of wildfire. A tumblew**d’s tangle of dry branches is particularly flammable and as the dead plants roll their way across fire lines or accumulate against structures like houses, they can become a threat to life should they catch alight.

Tumblew**ds can cause traffic accidents when they blindly bounce across highways, and herds of these spiny plants have been known to bury cars and houses. In 2014, two counties in Colorado declared a state of emergency when neighborhoods became overwhelmed. In the previous year, 45 miles of roads had to be closed after being clogged by tumblew**ds.

In 2024, tumblew**ds made headlines as strong winds pushed them into towns in Utah and Nevada. They created piles up to three meters high, reaching rooftops in some places.

Foxtail GrassFoxtail grass is an invasive, fast-growing annual w**d with bushy seed heads that can harm animals and comp...
05/16/2026

Foxtail Grass

Foxtail grass is an invasive, fast-growing annual w**d with bushy seed heads that can harm animals and compete aggressively with desirable grasses.

Foxtail grass is a summer annual grass that germinates in late spring and dies in the fall, producing numerous seeds that allow it to return each year. Its seed heads resemble a fox’s tail, often bristly and feathery, and can be green, yellow, or tawny depending on the species and maturity. The leaves are flat, wide, and rough, often brighter green than surrounding turf. A key feature is the presence of awns, sharp bristle-like appendages on each seed that can embed in animal fur, skin, or even eyes.

Conyza canadensis (Horsew**d)Horsew**d is well-known for being one of the most stubborn w**ds around, and it certainly e...
05/15/2026

Conyza canadensis (Horsew**d)

Horsew**d is well-known for being one of the most stubborn w**ds around, and it certainly earns that reputation. This resilient plant can grow in a wide range of conditions, making it a real challenge for both gardeners and farmers. I’ve personally witnessed how fast it can spread, crowding out other plants and upsetting the harmony of a garden or field.

Horsew**d can take over gardens and fields faster than a rabbit on a sugar rush. This plant adapts to nearly any environment and often brings headaches for gardeners and farmers alike.

Desert GllobemallowThis drought-adapted plant can be used in range revegetation. Desert globemallow is an early colonizi...
05/15/2026

Desert Gllobemallow

This drought-adapted plant can be used in range revegetation. Desert globemallow is an early colonizing species and may suppress invasive species in areas affected by fires. Seeds can be used on construction sites for erosion control or to restore the native plant community. Seedlings have been used to revegetate abandoned mine sites.

Although desert globemallow is edible, it unfortunately does not have a taste to match the brilliance of its flowers. However, it is a food source for the desert tortoise and provides browse for bighorn sheep and livestock. In addition, the large number of flowers produced throughout the year provides a steady source of pollen and nectar to many pollinators, such as hummingbirds, native bees, honeybees, butterflies, and moths.

HIGHLY TOXICDatura stramonium (Jimson w**d) Jimson w**d is highly toxic and contains alkaloids such as atropine, hyoscya...
05/15/2026

HIGHLY TOXIC

Datura stramonium (Jimson w**d)

Jimson w**d is highly toxic and contains alkaloids such as atropine, hyoscyamine, and scopolamine. All parts of the plant are poisonous, and ingestion can lead to serious health issues, including hallucinations, rapid heart rate, and potentially fatal symptoms. Common symptoms include dry mouth, blurred vision, and confusion, which can last for several days after ingestion. Ingestion can occur through eating the plant or contaminated feed, and it is more common in humans than in livestock. If exposed, it is crucial to seek medical attention immediately.

Silverleaf NightshadeThe whole plant is toxic to both humans and livestock, even dried.Ingestion of silverleaf nightshad...
05/15/2026

Silverleaf Nightshade

The whole plant is toxic to both humans and livestock, even dried.

Ingestion of silverleaf nightshade has been implicated as a cause of ivermectin toxicosis in horses given the recommended dosage of the drug. Metabolites from the plant are speculated to disrupt the blood–brain barrier, allowing ivermectin to enter and disrupt neurotransmitter function in the brain and spinal cord.

Its thin spines can cause w**d dermatitis.

MulleinMullein is an easy to recognize medicinal plant, with big fuzzy leaves and a tall flower spike with little yellow...
05/15/2026

Mullein

Mullein is an easy to recognize medicinal plant, with big fuzzy leaves and a tall flower spike with little yellow flowers. We’ll share how to identify and use this “gentle giant” safely and effectively.

Mullein grows up to 8 – 10 feet tall, with 2-6 feet being more common. The large base leaves are 12-15 inches long (or longer) and covered with velvety hairs.

Common mullein is a biennial, which means that it takes two years to reach maturity. The first year of growth, the plants form a basal rosette, as shown above. The second year, plants put up a single tall flower spike.

Native Americans used leaf poultices for many different ailments, including sprains, bruises, and abscesses. Sometimes the leaves were crushed, sometimes boiled, before being applied to the injured area. It’s also used for diarrhea, hemorrhoids, and as a general nerve tonic.

Lactuca serriolaCommonly known as prickly lettuce, is a wild relative of cultivated lettuce, characterized by its erect ...
05/15/2026

Lactuca serriola

Commonly known as prickly lettuce, is a wild relative of cultivated lettuce, characterized by its erect growth, spiny leaves, and yellow flowers.

Toxicity
It can cause pulmonary emphysema in cattle feeding exclusively on the plant.

Uses
Lactuca serriola can be eaten as a salad, although it has something of a bitter taste. Young leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. Older leaves can be steamed. While unsubstantial, its roots have been used as a coffee substitute.

Argemone pleiacanthaArgemone pleiacantha is a prickly, showy flowering plant native to the southwestern United States an...
05/15/2026

Argemone pleiacantha

Argemone pleiacantha is a prickly, showy flowering plant native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, known for its white flowers with yellow centers and toxic sap.

Description
Argemone pleiacantha, commonly called the Southwestern Prickly Poppy, is an annual or perennial herb that can grow up to 1.5 meters tall with branching, erect stems covered in prickles. Its blue-green leaves are divided into sharp, toothlike lobes, and the plant produces white flowers up to 16 cm wide with bright yellow stamens. The fruit is a prickly capsule up to 4.5 cm long, which releases numerous seeds when mature. The plant exudes a poisonous sticky alkaloid sap from broken leaves and stems, serving as a defense against herbivores.

Pollination and Ecology
The plant is pollinated by bees, flies, beetles, and butterflies and serves as a larval host for some moth species. Its prickly structure and toxic sap provide protection from herbivores, while its showy flowers attract pollinators.

Medicinal and Ethnobotanical Uses
Species in the Argemone genus, including A. pleiacantha, have been studied for anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antibiotic, antimalarial, and anti-tumor properties. Historically, the genus name "Argemone" refers to a white spot on the eye (cataract), which it was believed to treat, while "pleiacantha" derives from Greek words meaning “many thorns”.

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