Common Weeds of East Africa
A comprehensive list of weeds, plants, and grasses.
BOTANICAL NAME
COMMON NAME
1. Galinsoga parviflora
Gallant soldier, Macdonaldi
2. Lantana camara
Lantana, Tick-berry
3. Kyllinga erecta
Creeping sedge
4. Cyperus rotundus
Purple nutsedge
5. Cyperus esculentus
Yellow nutsedge
6. Typha domingensis
Reedmace
7. Euphorbia hirta
Asthma weed
8. Nicandra phaseoloides
Chinese lantern
9. Boerhavia diffusa
Tarvine
10. Commelina benghalensis Wandering jew
11. Trichodesma zeylanicum Late weed
12. Oxalis corniculata
Yellow sorrel
13. Oxalis latifolia
Oxalis species
14. Bidens pilosa
Black jack
15. Tagetes minuta
Mexican marigold, Tall khaki weed
16. Argemone mexicana
Mexican Poppy, Mexican thistle
17. Datura stramonium
Thorn apple
18. Solanum incanum
Sodom apple
19. Solanum suave
Solanum species
20. Solanum nigrum
Black night shade
21. Leonotis mollissima
Lion's ear
22. Leucas martinicensis
Bobbin weed
23. Ocimum basilicum
Mentha
24. Ageratum conyzoides
Goat weed
25. Caesalpinia decapetala Mauritius thorn
26. Opuntia exaltata
Cactus, Prickly pear
27. Setaria verticillata
Love grass, Bristly foxtail
28. Acacia brevispica
Wait-a-bit thorn
29. Achyranthes aspera
Devil's horsewhip
30. Cynoglossum caeruleum Forget-me-not
31. Senecio ruwenzoriensis Mau narok ragwort
32. Sonchus oleraceus
Sow-thistle
33. Sphaeranthus sauveolens Hardheads
34. Psiadia arabica
Psiadia
35. Tridax procumbens
P.W.D. weed
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
51.
52.
53.
Ricinus communis
Costor-oil plants
Sida acuta
Sweeping broom
Crotalaria polysperma Rattle pod
Indigiofera spicata
Creeping indigo
Oxygonum sinuatum
Double thorn
Rumex acetosella
Sheep's sorrel
Pteridium aquilinum
Bracken fern
Tephrosia sinapou
Fish poison
Tephrosia vogelii
"
"
Cyphostemma Kilimandscharicum
Wild and Drum
Cassia abbreviata
Long pod cassia
Bambusa spinosa
Bambusa (Mwanzi)
Conyza stricta
Conyza species
Conyza sumatrensis
"
"
Conyza bonariensis
"
"
Sporobolus puramidalis Rat's tail grass
Striga hermontheca
Purple witchweed
Striga asiatica
Red witchweed
Striga forbesii
Identification of grass species
BOTANICAL NAME
1. Pennisetum purpureum
2. Tripsacum laxum
3. Setaria splendida
4. Canna edulis
5. Chloris gayana
6. Cenchrus ciliaris
7. Cenchrus setigerus
8. Brachiaria brizantha
9. Brachiaria ruziziensis
10. Melinis minutiflora
11. Setaria anceps
12. Hyparrhenia rufa
COMMON NAME
Elephant grass, Napier grass
Guatemala grass
Giant setaria
Edible canna
Rhodes grass
Buffel grass, African fox-tail
Birdwood grass
Signal grass, Palisade grass
Ruzi grass, Congo signal grass
Molasses grass
Nandi setaria, Jaraqua grass
Thatch grass
Plants, weeds, and trees identified as not good for compost piles.
BOTANICAL NAME
1. Kyllinga erecta
COMMON NAME
Creeping sedge.
Brief Description: This is a grass that spreads quite easily and
roots at nodes. Chances are it will grow in our compost pile and
use up essential nutrients.
2. Cynodone dactylon
Star grass or Bermuda grass.
Another grass that spreads easily and roots at nodes it will grow
in our piles.
3. Commelina bengalensus
Wandering Jew.
Also roots at nodes and will probably grow in our compost piles.
4. Amaranthus
Pig weed.
Invasive weed. Plant has itchy spines which might make it
difficult to harvest for compost and the seeds could possibly
survive the heat of our compost pile.
5. Bidens spilosa
Black jack.
Invasive weed, seeds are very persistant and may survive the heat
of our compost pile. Also not desirable on grazing lands because
the seeds can irritate the eyes of grazers like cattle and sheep.
6. Oxalis corniculata
Yellow sorrel.
Invasive weed, seeds will survive the heat of our compost pile.
However, has medicinal properties; used as an aid for stomach
aches in small children. Crush the leaves and add water.
7. Lactuca capensis
common name?
Invasive weed seeds will survive the heat of our piles. However
has medicinal properties. Plant contains a white liquid that can
be used in the treatment of Malaria. Add liquid with water, heat
and use as a vaporizor.
8. Leucas martinicensus
Bobbon weed.
Invasive weed, seeds will survive the heat of our pile. Do not add
to compost
Plants, weeds, and trees identified as useful for compost piles.
1. Cedrella
Disiduous tree, during short rainy season leaves turn from green
to yellow. Produces small round fruits. Introduced in the Arusha
region as a mosquito repellent (in the leaves) by the Germans.
2. Lantana camara
Lantana and Tick berry.
Climbing vine that produces small red fruits. The fruits grow
clustered together resembling a dark mass of ticks. When red the
berries can be eaten, however when not ripe, the green berries are
poisonous. Use around plot as an attractor of beneficial birds.
3. Canna indica
Canalily
Yellow lilly flower. Produces beautiful yellow flowers that are
beneficial insect attractors. Has large biomass and also can be
cut and turned into the soil as green manure in sheet composting.
Its' broad leaves easily harvested for compost and they breakdown
rapidly. Spreads by rhizomes and is easily propagated
4. Galinsoga paniflora
Galant soldier
Friendly weed that is high in protien content and decomposes
rapidly. Protien highest during the initial flowering stage. Good
for compost. The leaves are also sometimes eaten as vegetales by
local people.
5. Setaria homonyma
common name?
Resembles what we call elephant grass. Shade loving grass that
does not spread easily. Ideal for drying and using as brown
material in compost.
6. Eleucine indica
Wild finger millet or Crows foot grass.
Grass that produces long seed containers that grow out of the top
of the plant in a star shape resembling the foot of a crow. Ideal
for drying and using as brown material in compost.
7. Solanum incanum
Sodom Apple.
Related to tomatoes. Produces green striated fruit that is harder
and smaller than apples. The fruit is poisonous it contains
solonine. Sometimes it is crossbred with tomatoes to aid in
drought resistance. Leaves and stems are good for use as green
materials in compost, but they do contain thorns.
8. Ageratum conyzoides
Goat Weed.
Produces small blue flowers that smell like male goats, hence the
name goat weed. The plant is an annual that is very prevalent and
is suitable for use as green material for compost.
9. Tangentus minuta
Mexican Merigold.
Has allelopathic properties. Can be used as a weed deterrent and
as a soil cleanser if your garden is overtaken by invasives such
as cuch grass. However, it's allopathic effects can be persistent
in the soil and affect your crops, so use carefully. It can also
be used as an effective border against invasives and as an insect
deterrent.
10. Conyza bonariensus
common name?
Classified as a friendly weed. Has medium sized long green leaves
that are good for use as green material in compost.
11. Trichordesma zeylanican Late Weed.
Blooms later than most other weeds, and usually after the time of
harvest for most crops? Has an itchy effect, however can be used
as compost material although it does not produce much biomass.
12. Borhava difusa
Tarvine.
Resembles a vine that is red in color. O.K. for use in compost
although it dies not produce much biomass.
13. Achyranthus aspera
Devil's horse whip.
Produces long seed containers that shoot out from the top of the
stems. These seed containers, resemble a whip one uses to train
horses. They have an itchy effect. However, the leaves and srem
can be used as compost material.
Information provided by: Mr. Mtae at MATI Tengeru
Reference: East African Weeds and their Control, by Ivens