126 



THE INDIANA WEED BOOK. 



Fig. 89. (After Vasey.) 



of the most troublesome of corn-field weeds. In pastures it is also 



very common and annoying, 

 often growing in patches so 

 thick as to monopolize the soil. 

 Nothing but sheep among live 

 stock will eat it, and they feed 

 mostly upon the berries and so 

 scatter widely the seeds. It is 

 attacked by a leaf -beetle (Lep- 

 tinotarsa juncta Germ.) very 

 similar to the Colorado potato 

 beetle. This beetle also preys 

 upon some of the ground- 

 cherries, but unfortunately it 

 is not very common. The plant 

 is so tenacious of life that it is 

 almost impossible to eradicate 

 where it once gets a good start, 

 as it never relinquishes any 

 ground once occupied. One 

 farmer in Lawrence County stated that he had proven "that their 

 roots will live 10 years under a heap of sawdust and grow as soon 

 as the dust is removed. ' ' The first 

 specimen on farms not already in- 

 fested should be promptly de- 

 stroyed. Remedies: repeated cut- 

 ting with hoe or spud and salting ; 

 alternate cultivation and heavy 

 cropping with clover. 



92. SOLANUM ROSTRATUM Dunal. 

 Texas Nettle. Prickly Potato. 

 Buffalo-bur. Prickly Night- 

 shade. (A. N. 1.) 

 Erect, branching, 1-2 feet high, 



very thickly armed with yellow, awl- 

 shaped prickles and densely covered 



with 5-8-rayed hairs; leaves 2-5 



inches long, more or less divided or 



cut-lobed. Flowers in loose clusters 



of 3-5, yellow, about 1 inch broad; 



calyx densely prickly, surrounding and 



wholly enclosing the berry, its prickles 



becoming as long as the fruit. Seeds 



kidney-form, black or greenish, 1/10 inch long, strongly pitted. 





Fig. 90. a, spray of mature plant with flowers and 

 fruit; o, flower; c, seed. (After Dewey.) 



(Fig. 90.) 



