Lab 1 - Buckwheat and Amaranth Family

Question 1

identifying characteristics of seedling wild buckwheat

Answer 1

• long, narrow cotyledons that are at 120 degrees
• stem is reddish purple

Question 2

identifying characteristics of mature wild buckwheat

Answer 2

• alternate, arrowhead shaped leaves with downward pointing lobes
• thin, twining stems

Question 3

identifying characteristics of mature tartary buckwheat

Answer 3

• alternate, arrowhead-shaped leaves with palmate venation and red dot in center

Question 4

identifying characteristics of mature pale smartweed

Answer 4

-entire and lanceolate leaves that can have purple blotch at the center
- glabrous ocrea that is papery
- pinkish white flowers

Question 5

how to tell difference between pale smartweed and lady’s thumb

Answer 5

pale smartweed ocrea lack bristles
lady’s thumb has ocrea tipped with bristles

Question 6

identifying characteristics of mature field dock

Answer 6

• alternate lanceolate leaves with a wavy margin
• flowers that turn rust color when ripe

Question 7

identifying characteristics of mature prostrate knotweed

Answer 7

• swollen nodes with silver ocrea
• prostrate, wiry stems
• small pinkish flowers

Question 8

identifying characteristics of seedling lambs quarters

Answer 8

• elongated elliptical cotyledons on long petiole
• underside of cotyledons pink
• salty/grainy texture

Question 9

identifying characteristics of mature lambs quarters

Answer 9

• diamond shaped leaves with variable leaf margin
• ribbed stems with red stripes
• salty/grainy texture

Question 10

identifying characteristics of seedling kochia

Answer 10

• cotyledons are bright pink-purple underneath with elongated elliptical shape
• little to no petiole
• true leaves covered in fine pubescence

Question 11

identifying characteristics of mature kochia

Answer 11

• large bushy pyramid
• linear, sessile leaves with hairs on bottom surface
• small petal-less flowers in axils

Question 12

identifying characteristics of mature russian thistle

Answer 12

• narrow, flat, and pointed leaves (look like needles)
• inconspicuous flowers

Question 13

identifying characteristics of mature russian pigweed

Answer 13

• alternate, lanceolate leaves with entire, slightly wavy margin
• lower leaves have short petiole, upper leaves are nearly sessile

Question 14

identifying characteristics of mature redroot pigweed

Answer 14

• alternate, petiolate leaves that are dull green
• very small spine in notch at tip of leaf

Question 15

identifying characteristics of mature prostrate pigweed

Answer 15

• prostrate red stems
• spatulate dark green leaves