Round Leaved Fluellen

About the weed

It is a sprawling dicotyledon, growing to 20 - 40cm, with glandular hairs.

Key features

Young plant: The first true leaves are rounder than those of sharp-leaved fluellen.

Plant: The leaves are almost circular.

Flowers: The flowers resemble those of snapdragon and are bright yellow with a brown upper lip.

Biology

Round-leaved fluellen needs warmer conditions than sharp-leaved fluellen so it is more common in southern Britain. It is a poorly competitive species found in uncompetitive crops, particularly perennial and row crops. Seeds germinate in spring and set seed usually after harvest. Plants often grow lower than the combine cut, so can set seeds in late-ploughed fields.

Symptoms & Diagnosis

Life cycle

Seed longevity: >5 years

Seed weight: 0.39 mg

Seeds/flower: 25

Seeds/plant: 2000

Treatment

Management

It is readily controlled by cultivation and seldom found in competitive winter crops or grass ley rotations.