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The Mission of the Yellowstone County Weed Department is to assist the public, private, and other government agencies to manage and control existing noxious weed infestations as well as to prevent new invasive species from infesting Yellowstone County.
Blue WeedEchium vulgare
Photo from Weeds of the West, revised ed.
Photos from Montana Weed Control Association
Video Supplied By Ravalli County Weed District
| Attribute | Description |
|---|---|
| Toxic | Toxic. Contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Toxic to humans, horses and cattle. |
| Growth Habit | Biennial to short-lived taprooted perennial growing to 2 ½ feet in height. |
| Leaves | Leaves are alternate, sessile; all leaves are entire, acute, linear lanceolate or linear-oblong with single midvein. |
| Stem | 1 meter in height, lateral stems often ascending, green with purple spotting (from spine bases), dense pubescent and also with straight spines. Spines clear and crystalline. |
| Flower | Corolla shallowly 5-lobed, zygomorphic, blue-purple to pink. |
| Roots | Large taproot. |
| Seeds | Produces 500 to 2000 seeds per plant. |
| Reproduction | By seed. |
| Habitat | Invades rangelands, pastures, roadsides, and idle areas particularly on coarse, sandy to gravelly soils. |
| Biological Controls | — |
| Herbicides | Glyphosate, dicamba, 2,4 – D + dicamba, and Escort. |