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Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

hairy galinsoga

Scientific Name: Galinsoga ciliate

Other Names: galinsoga cilié, Galinsoga, Quickweed

Family: Composite or Aster Family (Compositae)

General Description: Hairy galinsoga is an annual weed reproducing only by seed.

Habitat: Hairy galinsoga is found throughout southern Ontario especially near towns and cities in gardens, roadside and waste areas.

Seedlings

  • Cotyledons are club-shaped, opposite, triangular with slightly toothed margins
  • Cotyledons are covered with hairs
  • Hypocotyl is very short and green but becomes maroon as it matures
Stems
  • Stems are erect
  • Very branched with opposite branches
  • 20-70 cm in height
  • Covered with coarse spreading hair
Leaves
  • Leaves are opposite (2 per node)
  • Lower leaves have long stalks, upper leaves have very short stalks
  • Leafs are oval in shape and pointed towards the tip
  • Leaf margins are coarsely toothed
Flowers and Fruit
  • Flower heads are small (3-7 mm across) on hairy stalks from the axils of leaves
  • Ray florets are white with about 5 per head and slightly longer than the yellow-green to white disk florets
  • Pappus scales present on both the ray and tubular florets
  • Flowers from June to late autumn

Roots and Underground Structures:

  • Fibrous root system

With / Distinguishing Features
Hairy galinsoga is distinguished by its opposite, oval and coarsely toothed leaves on opposite-branched stems as well as its small flower heads that each have 5 white tiny rays and a yellow disk.

References

www.weedinfo.ca/en/weed-index/view/id/GASCI
http://weedid.missouri.edu//weedinfo.cfm?weed_id=118
www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/facts/ontweeds/hairy_galinsoga.htm

Mature, whole plant of hairy galinsoga Hairy galinsoga seed at the 2-leaf stage Hairy stem of the hairy galinsoga Small flowers of the hairy galinsoga extending from the leaf axilsClose up of a single flower of hairy galinsogaHairy galinsoga seedsClick to enlarge.