Weeds of Rain Fed Lowland Rice Fields of Laos Cambodia
Monica L. Naples & Paul J. A. Kessler
Character
List
#1. Synonyms:/
#2. <Habit>/
1. Shrublet/
2. Herb/
3. Climber/
Herb: a plant without a long-lasting above-ground woody
stem, the stems die back to the ground at the end of the growing season.
Climber: A plant growing
erect by leaning or twining on another structure for support.
Shrublet: An herbaceous-like plant with long-lasting
woody stems at the base of the plant.
#3. <Plant
size>/
1. less than 50 cm/
2. 50–150 cm/
3. more than 150
cm/
#4. <Life
cycle>/
1. annual/
2. perennial/
Annual: A plant that
germinates from seed, produces flowers and seeds, and then dies in the same
year.
Perennial: A plant that lives
3 or more years. It may have vegetative structures such as rhizomes and tubers.
#5. <Plant>/
1. insectivorous/
2.
non-insectivorous/
Insectivorous: A plant with specialized structures that
capture and digest insects.
#6. <Plant>/
1. aromatic/
2. non-aromatic/
Aromatic: A plant that has a smell when the leaves or
other plant parts are rubbed or crushed.
#7. <Plant>/
1. parasitic/
2. non-parasitic/
Parasitic: A plant that grows
attached to another plant and depends partially or fully on it for nutrients.
#8. <Plant>
Bladder-shaped organs/
1. present/
2. absent/
Bladder-shaped
organs: Round and inflated parts on an insectivorous plant that are modified to
capture and digest insects.
#9. <Plant>
Milky sap/
1. present/
2. absent/
Milky sap: A milky-white liquid
substance secreted by a plant when it is cut.
#10. <Plant>
Thorns/
1. present/
2. absent/
Thorns: Small, sharp
structures on a stem, leaf or stipule.
#11. <Plant
habitat>/
1. Land plant/
2. Water plant/
Land plant: A plant that grows
on dry, moist or moderately wet ground.
Water plant: A plant that grows in or near water. It can be
submerged or floating in the water, or only partially emergent.
#12. <Water
plant position>/
1. free floating in
water/
2. rooted in the
substrate/
Free-floating in
water: An aquatic plant that is not rooted in the ground and floats on the
water surface.
Rooted in the
substrate: An aquatic plant that is rooted in the ground. It may be completely
submerged or partially emergent.
#13. <Type of
aquatic plant>/
1. submerged/
2. partially
submerged/
Submerged: An aquatic plant that is rooted in the ground
and all of its parts remain below the water surface.
Partially-submerged: An aquatic plant
that is rooted in the ground and grows partly below the water surface with some
parts floating on or growing above the water surface.
#14. Underground
parts/
1. with tuber-like
structures/
2. without
tuber-like structures/
Tuber-like
structures: A round thickened part of rhizomes, stolons or roots.
#15. Rhizomes/
1. present/
2. absent/
Rhizome: A horizontal stem that grows below the ground.
#16. Rhizomes/
1. with tuber-like
structures/
2. without
tuber-like structures/
Tuber-like
structures: A round thickened part of rhizomes, stolons or roots.
#17. Stolons/
1. present/
2. absent/
Stolon: A horizontal stem that grows above the ground
and forms new plants at the nodes. It may or may not have roots at the nodes.
#18.
<Stolons>/
1. rooting at
nodes/
2. not rooting at
nodes/
Node: The part of the
main axis where the leaf is attached.
#19.
<Stolons>/
1. with tuber-like
structures/
2. without
tuber-like structures/
Tuber-like
structures: A round thickened part of rhizomes, stolons or roots.
#20. Stems/
1. hairy/
2. not hairy/
Hairy stems: The stems (or main axis) with hairs.
#21. <Hair
type>/
1. with simple
hairs/
2. with compound
hairs/
Simple hairs: Unbrached hairs,
consisting of one of several cells in one linear row.
Complex hairs: Hairs that are
branched.
#22. <Stem
shape>/
1. round/
2. triangular/
3. quadrangular/
Round stems: The stems (main
axis) are round in cross-section.
Triangular stems: The stems (main
axis) are 3-sided in cross-section.
Quadrangular stems: The stems (main
axis) are 4-sided in cross-section.
#23. <Stems/Plant>/
1. erect/
2. procumbent/
Erect stems: Stems growing
upwards and not creeping on the ground.
Procumbent stems: Stems lying or
creeping on the ground, but not rooting at the nodes.
#24. <Stems>/
1. hollow/
2. solid/
Hollow: Stems that do not have
any tissue inside.
Solid: Stems that have
solid or spongy tissue inside.
#25. <Stems>/
1. succulent/
2. non-succulent/
Succulent: Thickened, juicy
or fleshy stems.
#26. Petiole
<shape>/
1. round/
2. flat/
3. triangular/
4. quadrangular/
5. winged/
Petiole: The stalk of the leaf that joins it to the
main axis.
#27. Leaves
<number of types>/
1. one type
present/
2. two types
present/
Leaf types: Different shapes,
sizes or types of leaves on the same plant. Usually refers to floating or partially-submerged
aquatic plants.
#28. <Leaf
size>/
1. small (less than
2 cm long/wide)/
2. large (more than
2 cm long/wide)/
#29. <Leaf
(including petiole)> not hairy/
1. on upper
surface/
2. on lower
surface/
#30. <Leaf
surface (including petiole)> hairy/
1. on upper
surface/
2. on lower
surface/
#31. <Leaf
attachment>/
1. sessile/
2. stalked/
Sessile: The leaf base is
attached directly to the main axis, without a stalk (petiole).
Stalked: The leaf base is attached
to the main axis by a stalk (petiole).
#32. <Leaf
division>/
1. simple/
2. compound/
Simple: A leaf that is not
divided into smaller leaves (leaflets).
Compound: A leaf that is
divided into 2 or more smaller leaves (leaflets).
#33. <Compound
leaf type>/
1. each leaf with 2
leaflets, i.e. bifoliolate/
2. each leaf with 3
or more leaflets arising from 1 point (ternate, trifoliolate or palmate)/
3. each leaf with 4
leaflets (4-foliate)/
4. each leaf with leaflets
arranged in pairs along each side of a common axis, i.e. pinnate/
5. each leaf
pinnate with the main axis also pinnately divided, i.e. bipinnate/
6. each leaf tri-
or more pinnate/
Bifoliate: Each leaf is
divided into 2 smaller leaves (leaflets).
Palmate: Each leaf is
divided into 3 or more (leaflets) arising from 1 point.
4-foliate: Each leaf with 4
leaflets
Pinnate: Each leaf is
divided only once into many leaflets arranged along each side of a common axis.
Bipinnate: Each leaf is
divided two times: the first leaflets are then divided into leaflets again.
Tri-or more pinnate: Each leaf is
divided three times: the first and second leaflets are divided into leaflets
again.
#34. <Leaf
shape>/
1. narrow/
2. broad/
Narrow: When measuring the
size of the leaf, if the length is 5 to 10 times more than the width.
Broad: When measuring the
size of the leaf, if the length is 1 to 3 times more than the width.
#35. <Leaf
arrangement>/
1. alternate/
2. opposite/
3. whorled/
Alternate: There is only one
leaf at each node. The leaves can be arranged in two rows on opposite sides of
the main axis or clustered at the base of the axis.
Opposite: There are two
leaves at each node, either across from each other or at 90 degree angles from
the leaves above or below.
Whorled: There are three
or more leaves at each node, positioned around the main axis.
#36. <Leaf
crowding>/
1. in a rosette/
2. evenly
distributed on stem/
Rosette: A dense radiating
cluster of leaves at or near ground level or at the base of the main axis.
Evenly distributed
on stem: The leaves are evenly distributed along the length of the main axis.
#37. <Leaf or
leaflet> margin/
1. entire/
2. not entire/
Entire: The outermost edge
of the leaves is smooth with no incision.
Not entire: The outermost edge
of the leaves is variously incised.
#38. <Leaf or
leaflet> apex <shape>/
1. attenuate/
2. acute/
3. obtuse/
4. rounded/
5. truncate/
Attenuate: The leaf tip tapers
gradually into a narrow point.
Acute: The leaf tip tapers
to a point with an angle smaller than 90 degrees, with more or less straight
sides.
Obtuse: The leaf tip is
blunt or rounded and the leaf sides come together at an angle bigger than 90
degrees.
Rounded: The leaf tip is
rounded.
Truncate: The leaf tip is
square, as if cut off.
#39. <Leaf or
leaflet> base <shape>/
1. acute/
2. attenuate/
3. clasping/
4. cuneate/
5. cordate/
6. hastate/
7. obtuse/
8. rounded/
9. truncate/
Acute: The leaf base tapers
to a point with an angle smaller than 90 degrees, with more or less straight
sides.
Attenuate: The leaf base
tapers gradually into a narrow base.
Clasping: The leaf base
encloses the stem.
Cuneate: The leaf base is wedge-shaped,
triangular and tapers to a point.
Cordate: The leaf base is
heart-shaped.
Hastate: The leaf base is
arrow-shaped.
Obtuse: The leaf base is
blunt or rounded and the leaf sides come together at an angle bigger than 90
degrees.
Rounded: The leaf base is
rounded.
Truncate: The leaf base is
square, as if cut off.
#40. <Leaf
venation pattern>/
1. one-veined/
2. pinnately
veined/
3. palmately
veined/
4. parallel-veined/
5. 3-veined/
One-veined: One main vein per
leaf or leaflet.
Pinnately veined: The leaf has one
main central vein (midrib) with several secondary veins branching off of it
along its length at an angle of 30–45 degrees.
Palmately veined: The at least 5
major veins of the leaf originate from the same point at the base of the leaf
(like fingers of a hand).
Parallel-veined: The main
secondary veins of the leaf run parallel to the leaf axis or to each other.
3-veined: The leaf has 3
main veins that arise from near the base, or one main central vein with two
veins branching from it on each side, and run the length of the leaf to the
apex.
#41. <Minor
venation patterns>/
1. with
close-parallel secondary venation/
2. without
close-parallel secondary venation/
Close parallel
secondary venation: The secondary veins of the leaf are close and
parallel to each other.
Other: The secondary veins
are not close and parallel to each other, but are arranged in another pattern.
#42. <Leaf>
midrib/
1. prominent/
2. not-prominent/
Prominent midrib /
veins: The central midrib or the leaf veins are raised from the surface of
the leaf, either on the upper or lower leaf surface.
#43. <Leaf>
surface/
1. waxy/
2. not-waxy/
Waxy: The leaf surface
is covered with a whitish or bluish-grey coating. It can be seen be scraping
the leaf surface with a fingernail or by holding a flame at a distance below
the leaf to melt the wax, after which the color has dissappeared.
#44.
<Leaves>/
1. succulent/
2. non-succulent/
Succulent: Thickened, juicy
or fleshy leaves.
#45. <Leaf>
glands/
1. present/
2. absent/
Glands: Special structures
on the leaf surface that secrete a substance.
#46. <Leaf>
dots/
1. present/
2. absent/
Dots: The leaf surface
is covered with small transparent or colored dots that are visible with a
handlens (x10) or with the naked eye when the leaf-blade is held in front of a
strong light source.
#47. <Leaf>
papillae/
1. present/
2. absent/
Papillae: Small, raised
bumps on the leaf surface.
#48. <Leaf>
hydathodes/
1. present/
2. absent/
Hydathodes: Specialized
glands at the leaf apex that secrete water.
#49. Leaf sheath/
1. present/
2. absent/
Leaf sheath: The basal part of
the leaf or petiole surrounds the stem.
#50. <Leaf
sheath>/
1. hairy/
2. not-hairy/
#51. <Leaf>
Stipules/
1. present/
2. absent/
Stipules: Small flaps of
tissue at the base of the petiole of a leaf, near its attachment to the main
axis. They can be leaf-like or small and not easily seen or sometimes falling
off leaving only a small scar.
#52. <Leaf
stipules>/
1. hairy/
2. not hairy/
#53. <Leaf>
Ligules/
1. present/
2. absent/
Ligules: A small collar-,
tongue- or hair-like flap of tissue on the upper surface of a leaf at the
junction of the leaf blade and the leaf sheath. Present on grassy plants.
#54. <Leaf
ligules>/
1. hairy/
2. not hairy/
#55. <Leaf
ligules>/
1. membraneous/
2. non-membraneous/
#56. Flowers
<type>/
1. unisexual/
2. bisexual/
Unisexual: The flowers on one
plant have only one type of reproductive structure, either male (stamen) or
female (pistil).
Bisexual: The flowers on one
plant have both male (stamen) and female (pistil) reproductive structures.
#57. <Flowers
grouping>/
1. solitary/
2. grouped together
in an inflorescence/
1. Each flower
grows alone in the axil of a leaf or on a branch or trunk
2. Flowers grow
together in a structure (the inflorescence) in the axis of a leaf or on a
branch or trunk
#58. <Flower or
inflorescence position>/
1. terminal/
2. axillary/
Terminal: A flower or an
inflorescence that originates at the end of the stem or flowering axis.
Axillary: A flower or an inflorescence that originates
where the leaf attaches to the main axis.
#59. Inflorescence
<form>/
1. a spike/
2. a head/
3. not a spike or a
head but other/
Inflorescence: A cluster of
flowers on the flowering axis.
Spike: The inflorescence
is unbranched and long, and the flowers or spikelets are sessile or nearly
sessile.
Head: The inflorescence is a dense cluster of sessile
or nearly sessile flowers, usually round in shape.
Other: The inflorescence
is branched and/or the flowers are stalked.
#60.
<Inflorescence density>/
1. lax/
2. compact/
Lax: The flowers of
the inflorescence have a large distance between them.
Compact: The flowers of the inflorescence are closely
spaced.
#61.
<Inflorescence number of flowers>/
1. one-flowered/
2. few
(2–5)-flowered/
3. many (more than
5)-flowered/
#62. Flowers
<crowding>/
1. single/
2. clustered/
Sinigle: Only one flower at
point of attachment.
Clustered: Many flowers
together.
#63. <Flowers
attachment>/
1. sessile/
2. stalked/
Sessile: The flowers are
attached directly to the main axis, without a stalk (pedicel).
Stalked: The flowers are
attached to the main axis by a stalk (pedicel).
#64. <Flower
size>/
1. small (less than
2 cm)/
2. large (more than
2 cm)/
#65. <Flower or
inflorescence color>/
1. no color/
2. white/
3. yellow/
4. orange/
5. pink/
6. red/
7. blue/
8. purple/
9. green/
10. brown/
#66. <Flower
number of> Petals/
1. none/
2. one/
3. two/
4. 3 or 3-merous/
5. 4 or 4-merous/
6. 5 or more/
Petals: The parts of a
flower above the sepals that are broad, flat and thin and usually colored.
#67. <Flower
petals>/
1. free/
2. fused/
Free: The petals of a
flower are not joined together but are separate.
Fused: The petals of a
flower are joined together, usually forming a tubular shape and fall off in one
piece
#68. <Flower
number of> Sepals/
1. none/
2. one/
3. two/
4. 3 or 3-merous/
5. 4 or 4-merous/
6. 5 or more/
Sepals: The lower- and
outer-most flower parts that surround all the other flower structures. They are
usually thick, tough or waxy.
#69. <Flower
number of> Stamens/
1. one/
2. few (2–5)/
3. many (more than
5)/
Stamens: The male
reproductive part of a flower.
#70. <Flower>
Bracts/
1. present/
2. absent/
Bracts: A small, often
thickened leaf-like structure at the base of a flower or inflorescence.
#71. <Flower
bracts>/
1. hairy/
2. not hairy/
#72. <Flower>
Spathe/
1. present/
2. absent/
Spathe: A large bract or
pair of bracts that enclose an inflorescence.
#73. <Flower
spathe>/
1. winged/
2. not winged/
#74. <Flower
spathe>/
1. hairy/
2. not hairy/
#75. Seed
<shape>/
1.
ellipsoid/oblong/
2. horse-shoe
shape/
3. round/
#76. <Seed
surface>/
1. hairy/
2. smooth/
3. pitted/
4. ribbed/
5. warty/
6. spiny/
7. winged/
#77. Fruit
<type>/
1. a nut or
nut-like/
2. a berry or
berry-like/
3. a drupe/
4. a capsule/
Nut or nut-like: The fruit is dry
(not fleshy), does not split open and has only one seed.
Berry or
berry-like: The fruit is fleshy, does not split open and has many seeds.
Drupe: The fruit is
fleshy, does not split open and has only one seed.
Capsule: The fruit is dry,
splits open and has many seeds.
#78. Notes:/
#79. Common names:/
#80. Control
methods:/
#81. Uses:/