1. Carpetweed

Figure 1: Carpetweed
Mollugo verticillata
(photo by author)

Skeena Nature Trail is a pleasant mix of forest and shrub-steppe habitat that ascends from Summit Drive (a quiet roadway that crosses between a bright-green, manicured park and the trail). On the apex of the sloping trail is a rich residential zone, and across Summit Drive in the other direction is a similar nest of housing complexes that overlook both the man-made park and Skeena Trail. With all these developments encroaching on this strip of natural landscape it's no wonder carpetweed grows so plentifully, as is it know to thrive in "inhabited" locations (Ontario Weed Committee 2011). The majority of the clusters of carpetweed that I encountered were near the base of the trail, where the landscape had been more heavily impacted by the road and parking lot (of the park) nearby. Carpetweed seemed to grow in barren locations where the soil quality was hard and dry, near the pavement, around large rocks and stones, and at the base of the hill where the worn trail was more apparent. It was the first plant I examined and photographed because it was so near to the start of the trail and very easy to access (farther up the trail began to get too steep to climb without difficulty). I admired its swirls of leaves and the greenness still apparent even in late fall, considering it aesthetically satisfying and quaint long before realize that it was a weed, scorned by gardeners and landscapers alike.

Location (North America): western Canada and some central-southern locations; entire USA; into northern Mexico (Reader's Digest 1982:326). Habitat: roadsides, ground that has been cultivated, also sandy areas (Ontario Weed Committee 2011). Size: up to 1ft. long stem (Reader's Digest 1982:362), starbursts of 4-6 leaves, white flowers in spring/summer (Reader's Digest 1982:362). Characteristics: low-growing, centralized main head/stem/roots with vines growing out around it; can survive in course soil, around gardens, roadways, and other inhabited spaces (Ontario Weed Committee 2011); flowers mostly in summer months.  Notes: a pest in most cultivated gardens/yards, grows rapidly and is resilient in many   different living conditions (Ontario Weed Committee 2011).

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Location (North America): western Canada and some central-southern locations; entire USA; into northern Mexico (Reader's Digest 1982:326).

Habitat: roadsides, ground that has been cultivated, also sandy areas (Ontario Weed Committee 2011).

Size: up to 1ft. long stem (Reader's Digest 1982:362), starbursts of 4-6 leaves, white flowers in spring/summer (Reader's Digest 1982:362).

Characteristics: low-growing, centralized main head/stem/roots with vines growing out around it; can survive in course soil, around gardens, roadways, and other inhabited spaces (Ontario Weed Committee 2011); flowers mostly in summer months. 

Notes: a pest in most cultivated gardens/yards, grows rapidly and is resilient in many   different living conditions (Ontario Weed Committee 2011).