Pocket guide to weeds of Cambodia

This guide is designed to assist Cambodian agricultural advisers to accurately identify weeds in cropping situations so that recommendations for weed control can be made based on the principles of Integrated Weed Management (IWM). Weed species differ in their responses to management practices because they have different life cycles and nutrient requirements and different modes of reproduction. They also vary in their responses to cultivation and susceptibility to herbicides. It is therefore important for the adviser and farmer to be able to accurately identify different weed species and to understand their individual weaknesses. This Guide for identification of weeds in Cambodia has been produced for that purpose. Species are arranged in alphabetical order in the Guide according to family, genus and species. A plant family (e.g. Euphorbiaceae) contains a number of related plants, all of which have one or more features in common. Families are split into a number of genera (e.g. Euphorbia, Jatropha, Ricinus), with the plants in these generic groups having further common characteristics. Each of the genera (genus) comprise one or more species, each with its own distinguishing or specific name (e.g. Euphorbia heterophylla L., Jatropha gossypiifolia L., Ricinus communis (Moq.) Gomez). These names are distinct from each other and from those of every other plant species. The Guide also includes the Khmer name for the weed, if known. A brief description, using taxonomic terminology, based primarily on the Flora of China, is given for each species. The descriptions in this Guide focus on plant habit, inflorescence, seeds and habitats that the weeds are found in.