191 1.] Identification and Eradication of Weeds. 291 



somewhat spherical to pear-shaped nutlet or fruit (Fig. 2, a) 

 which is about '08 in. (2 mm.) in diameter, greenish to brown, 

 with a slightly rough surface (due to the presence of minute 

 tubercles), and tw T o shallow dimples at the upper somewhat 

 depressed end. The fruits are found in cereal grain samples, 

 in clover seed samples, and sometimes in South American red 

 clover and lucerne samples. 



Ewart says that "The seeds appear able to lie dormant in 

 the soil for a few years, coming up wmen the ground is broken 

 up and seeded down, and often giving rise to complaints that 

 a seedsman has sold seed of this plant instead of grass or 

 clover seed." * 



Seedlings. — In the seed-leaf stage (Fig. 2, b) the root is 

 thin and fibrous; the hypocotyl is slender, white below and 

 brightly tinged with red above, and smooth. The cotyledons 

 are grass green, linear and narrow (J in. long by -fa in. broad — 

 i2'5 mm. long by 1*27 mm. broad), smooth, pointed, broadest 

 towards the centre, and narrowing below, and with a midrib 

 clearly visible beneath. 



With further growth (Fig. 2, c) the hypocotyl becomes 

 brownish-red and the cotyledons enlarge to f in. (21 mm.) 

 long; the first leaves are deeply lobed or divided and cut, 

 smooth, and petiolate (stalked), the stalk being hollow-ed above 

 and convex below. 



The hypocotyl gradually changes to brown and the 

 cotyledons fade somewhat, and the leaves are now (Fig. 2, d) 

 trifid or three-lobed, and. repeatedly cut and lobed. 



Mature Plant. — In the flowering plant (Fig. 2, e) the foliage 

 is repeatedly cut and lobed, delicately pale green, and quite 

 smooth; the weed is sometimes nearly 3 ft. high, when it is 

 weak and trailing in character. The flowers are irregular, 

 and pale rose-purple in colour, occurring in long clusters or 

 racemes placed at the end of the stem or opposite the leaves ; 

 they open from May to September. 



Prevention and Remedy. — Fumitory may be combated by 

 repeated surface cultivation during spring and early summer, 

 and thereafter by persistent hoeing of root crops. In corn 

 crops hand pulling may be necessary after the cereal is so high 

 that cultivation is not practicable. 



Weeds, Poison Plants, and Naturalised Aliens of Victoria, Dr. A. J. Ewart, 



1909. 



