Common name : Corn spurry
Common name in Hindi : Jangli dhania, bandhania, mun-muna, pittpapra
Common name in Urdu : Kalri booti
Bangla English Hindi Urdu
Diagnostic characters
Biology
Ecology and distribution
Nuisance
Weed control
Botany
Uses/Remark
References
Spergula arvensis is a rather small, herbaceous, annual plant native to Europe. It is conspicuous by its whorled, threadlike, bright green leaves and its small white flowers in terminal clusters. Some distinguishing characteristics of this species is the black seeds which are usually roughened by minute tubercles and which have a narrow, light colored wing on the margin.
This species was a source of food for man during the 3rd to 5th centuries A.D. in northern Europe. Excavations of occupation sites dating back to the Iron Age 2000 years ago yielded seeds which were still able to germinate.
In the temperate zone it may be expected to flower in about 8 weeks and produce mature seeds in about 10 weeks after germination. Flowering and seeding continue until the plant dies. The degree of branching has an effect on the amount of seed produced, but on the average the plants can produce very large amounts of seeds in a very short time. A large plant plant may have 500 capsules and release 7500 seeds. Capsules produced early in the season may bear 25 seeds but later capsules may contain only five.
When growing in openings it may produce two generation in one season. In some areas the weed plants may be cut by machinery at the second or third node level when crops are harvested; new branches may be produced from this stubble in time to flower and to have another release of seeds before frost.
There is a small amount of pollination by insects such as syrphids, wasps, and honeybees. Open flowers have an unpleasant smell.
Viable seeds have been found in the droppings of horses, pigs, cattle, pigeons and others birds. Short distance dispersal is by water and by mud on animals, by the feet of humans and by agricultural machines. The seeds are moved about in commerce with crop seeds. Archaeologically dated samples from several excavation areas revelated that seeds of Chenopodium album and Spergula arvensis from Iron Age occupation sites could still germinate. These sites were occupied from 100 B.C. to A.D. 400.
Cosmopolitan weed that is most widely distributed in the temperate zones but that does enter the tropics and competes with crops at higher elevations. It is on all the continents and is found in most of the cereal growing areas of the world. It likes to grow in open places and on arable land. The species prefers acid and light soils. It may be seen growing with equal vigor in wheat, root crops, potatoes, flax or oats.
As the weed approaches the tropical zone it must seek higher elevations to be sufficiently vigorous for competition with crops. However, it has been reported as a common weed of several cereal crops and peas cultures in India. In Punjab region of Pakistan is considered as minor weed, and a local rather than wide spread. Mainly in wheat, berseem and other crops of salt affected areas.
- Chemical
Post-emergence application of Sulfosulfuron at 25 g/ha or 2_4-D at 500 g/ha or Metsulfuron at 4 g/ha.
In Pakistan, in wheat cultures, very susceptible to pre and post-emergence herbicides a.g; Stomp 330 E at 3.75 l/ha as pre-emergence; Buctril-M 40 EC at 1.2 l/ha or Aim 40 DF at 50mg/ha as post-emergence may fully eradicate this feeble weed.
Habit
Erect, ascending or spreading annual herb.
Roots
Taproot and secondary roots finely and profusely branched.
Stem
15 to 60cm tall profusely branched below, slender, conspicuously jointed and somewhat sticky, sparsely hairy.
Leaves
Whorled at each node of the stem, threadlike, bright green, 1.5 to 4cm long, rounded on the upper surface, and grooved lengthwise on the lower surface, with minute yellow brown stipules.
Inflorescence
Flowers in terminal clusters (cyme), small, perfect, more or less flat topped, often spreading, with the central flower opening first. Sepals five, nearly separate, green and white; petals five, white; stamens ten; pistil one with five styles, five valved.
Fruit
Round, one celled capsule splitting into five sections containing many seeds.
Seeds
Black minute seeds, lens shaped, the surface roughened by minute rounded, protrouding bodies, rarely smooth, about 1.5mm in diameter, with a conspicuous, narrow, light colored wing on the margin.
- Holm L. G., Plucknett D. L., Pancho J. V., Herberger J. P. 1991. The world’s worst weeds. Distribution and Biology. East-West Center by the University Press. Hawaii.
- Nayyar M. M., Ashiq M. and Ahmad J. 2001. Manual on Punjab weeds (Part I). Directorate of Agronomy. Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, Faisalabad Pakistan.
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