Ontario Weeds: Hairy Galinsoga

Table of Contents

1. Name
2. Other Names
3. Family
4. General Description
   • Photos and Pictures
5. Stems and Roots
6. Flowers and Fruit
7. Habitat
8. Similar Species
9. Related Links

Name: Hairy galinsoga, Galinsoga ciliata (Raf.) Blake,

Other Names: galinsoga cilié, Galinsoga, Quickweed, galinsoga

Family: Composite or Aster Family (Compositae) 

General Description: Annual reproducing only by seed.

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Photos and Pictures

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Stems & Roots: Stems erect, often much-branched with opposite branches (usually 2 per node), 20-70cm (8-28in.) high, usually covered with coarse spreading hair; leaves opposite (2 per node), lower ones long-stalked, upper nearly stalkless, blades oval, pointed towards the tip, coarsely toothed.

Flowers & Fruit: Flower heads small, about 3-7mm (1/8-¼in.) across on short to long stalks from axils of leaves, the stalks usually hairy with slightly glandular hair; ray florets white, small, about 5 per head, only slightly longer than the yellowish-green to whitish disk florets; pappus-scales present on both ray and tubular florets and as long as the corolla tubes of the ray florets. Flowers from June to late autumn.

Habitat: Hairy galinsoga is common throughout southern Ontario in gardens, roadsides and waste places, especially near towns and cities.

Similar Species: It is distinguished by its opposite, oval, coarsely toothed leaves on opposite-branched stems and its small flower heads each with 5 white tiny rays and a yellow disk.

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Related Links

... on general Weed topics
... on weed identification, order OMAFRA Publication 505: Ontario Weeds
... on weed control, order OMAFRA Publication 75: Guide To Weed Control

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