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WEED FLORA OF IOWA 



Fig. 73-A. Distribution of Catchfly. 



Night-flowering Catchfly (Silene noctiflora L.). 



Description. — A viscid, pubescent annual from 2-3 ft. high ; lower 

 leaves spatulate, upper lanceolate and pointed ; flowers few, large, 

 peduncled, white, fragrant; calyx prominent veined; pod enlarged 

 in ripening of the fruit. 



Distribution. — In waste places in Europe, Canada to Manitoba 

 and southward, found in many counties in Iowa. 



Extermination. — This weed is easily exterminated by cultivation. 

 It has been widely spread in recent years with clover seed, particu- 

 larly clover seed coming from the east and from Europe. Sow only 

 clean clover seed on clean soil. 



Fletcher and Clark make the following suggestions for extermin- 

 ating the weed : "Farmers who sow clover and grass seed free from 

 the seeds of catchfly will not long have trouble with it on lands 

 worked under a short rotation of crops. A rotation of crops ex- 

 clusive of alsike seed should be adopted for six or eight years. Grass 



