Video:How to Identify Poisonous Weeds

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Transcript:How to Identify Poisonous Weeds

Hello, this is David Beaulieu, Landscaping Guide for About.com. Today I'll be identifying some common weeds and I'll also be discussing some of their traits, both positive and negative.

Identifying Poison Ivy

This plant is one of the most notorious noxious weeds. It's poison ivy; here it is with its characteristic three leaflets.

Identifying Stinging Nettle

This is another weed that causes a rash - it's called stinging nettle, and if you look very closely along its stems you can see tiny spines. If your skin comes into contact with the spines the first sensation will be a burn, the second will be an itchy rash.

Identifying Dogbane

This tall weed is called dogbane, and the bane in its name alludes to the fact that it's a poisonous plant. So if you have children or pets playing in the yard, it's probably not the best weed to allow to grow in your yard because you don't want to take the chance that they might ingest it accidentally.

Identifying Burdock

This large plant is called burdock, and it's so called because it develops a burr, which is sort of a spiky ball. These turn brown in autumn. The problem with these burrs is that, if say, you have a large dog that runs around in the yard, if it brushes up against these the burrs will get in its coat and it can be very troublesome to try to remove them all from the dogs coat. Or for that matter they can stick to your coat, or other pieces of clothing, or even get into your hair. So, especially if you have pets or even children perhaps, this plant could be a nuisance to have in the yard.

Identifying Yellow Dock

This plant is called yellow dock, and it's easily recognized when these seeds become brown. They remind me of coffee grounds. This plant has the medicinal quality of being able to counter-act the effects of stinging nettle. Should you be stung by a nettle just break off a leaf of the yellow dock and crush it between your fingers so as to create a pulp and release the juices, and then apply it to your wound, and you'll find relief.

Identifying Common Plantain

This plant is called common plantain, and it can be used in a way similar to what you just saw me describe with yellow dock. Should you be stung by and insect break off a leaf of plantain, rub it between your fingers to mash it into a pulp and then once you've got some nice juice apply it to your wound. In fact, the European colonists brought this plant over to the new world because it has many medicinal qualities. It's also edible. The young leaves can be eaten fresh and raw in salad, the older ones you might want to saute first before eating.

Thanks for watching, to learn more about a particular weed, conduct a search for it at About.com. See you there.