Weeds, are those unwanted plants who cast about aimlessly looking to find a home or friendly environment in which to live. We have tried to control them with herbicides or chemicals, machinery, electricity, and fire, we have attacked them with insects (bio-control), and the old stand-by, the hoe. We have fought them from the ground and we have fought them from the air and still they persist.

The first step in solving a weed problem, is to identify the plant you want to remove. WEED WIZARD is a game, which is intend to be fun and educational. It is designed to test your observation skills and knowledge about those plants which commonly infest our agricultural crops, maybe your garden and perhaps your lawn.

Your challenge is to use clues based on plant structure, biology, such as flowering or root development; color, environment, local or regional common names, taste (some weeds have been known to be salad material), perhaps even some poetic phrase or comment that may lead you to the answer. There will be links to descriptive keys and diagrams to help explain terminology. It should be noted that image resolution or sharpness will vary, depending on your computer monitor. Please keep this in mind when you are looking for details. The idea is to have some fun, and learn about weeds in the process.

The correct identification will be posted somewhere in the challenge. Participants are encourage to send in their responses, questions or comments. New weeds will be posted periodically. Because WEED WIZARD is under continuing review and development, your questions and comments are welcome.

Prepared by Dean Peterson

SHOW ME THE WEEDS!!