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Coffeeweed

Sesbania herbacea

Photo by suzmonk
Published on Project Noah
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32.6879, -88.4723

Field Notes

Description:

Grows 6 feet high on the side of the highway. (I think I have the right species, first cousin to Red Sesbania, at any rate.) Question: Do so many "invasive" species grow along the side of the highway because their seeds are scattered by interstate trucking? Is that a dumb question?

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (2)

I have a lot of weeds in my yard. When I discovered the beauty of its flowers small, I stopped pluck them.
It's a pity that some of the attractive weeds are so invasive. I don't think your question is not dumb at all - I've often wondered why there are particular varieties that grow more commonly around roadside. My theory: The coffeeweed pods are eaten by a variety of animals and I am sure that the deposited seeds get blown around and over either side of the road by vehicles and trucks must definitely be more effective at it !! These are little legumes and so if not blown they must roll around to the sides.

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