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California PCA Exam Helper: Pest Identification

Category E, State Licensing Exams

Broadleaves
Grasses and sedges

Weeds

The list below includes all the weeds contained in the knowledge expectations for the Category E California PCA exams.

Remember, in addition to knowing these organisms, there are many other knowledge expectations for this exam. Get the complete list of knowledge expectations from DPR.

To pass the exam, you will be required to

  • identify the following plants and understand their basic biology and other information related to them that the knowledge expectations require
  • identify mature plants of all of the following species and seedling stages of those indicated with an asterisk (*)

The names below will link you directly to pages in the UC IPM weed photo gallery. Additional information is available for some species in the Pest Notes link.

Family Common name
(link to photo and description)
Scientific name Pest
Note link
Broadleaves
Alismataceae Arrowheads Sagittaria spp.
 
Amaranthaceae Pigweeds* Amaranthus spp.
 
Asteraceae Yellow starthistle* Centaurea solstitialis
link to yellow starthistle pest note
 

Hairy fleabane*

Conyza bonariensis
 
  Cudweeds Gnaphalium spp.
 
  Prickly lettuce* Lactuca serriola
 
  Common groundsel* Senecio vulgaris
 
  Common cocklebur* Xanthium strumarium
 
Boraginaceae Coast fiddleneck* Amsinckia menziesii var. intermedia
 
  Mustards* Brassica spp.
 
  Shepherd's-purse* Capsella bursa-pastoris
 
  London rocket Sisymbrium irio
 
Caryophyllaceae Common chickweed* Stellaria media
 
Chenopodiaceae Common lambsquarters* Chenopodium album
 
  Russian thistle* Salsola tragus
link to Russian thistle pest note
Convolvulaceae Field bindweed* Convolvulus arvensis
link to field bindweed pest note
  Morningglories* Ipomoea spp.
 
Euphorbiaceae Spurge* Chamaesyce spp.
link to spurge pest note
Geraniaceae Filaree* Erodium spp.
 
Lamiaceae Henbit* Lamium amplexicaule
 
Malvaceae Velvetleaf* Abutilon theophrasti
 
  Mallow* Malva spp.
 
Polygonaceae Common knotweed* Polygonum arenastrum
link to common knotweed pest note
  Smartweeds Polygonum spp.
 
Portulacaceae Redmaids (desert rockpurslane) Calandrinia ciliata
 
  Purslane* Portulaca olearcea
link to purslane pest note
Scrophulariaceae Waterhyssops Bacopa spp.
 
Solanaceae Jimsonweed Datura stramonium
 
  Groundcherries Physalis spp.
 
  Nightshades* Solanum spp.
 
Typhaceae Cattails Typha spp.
 
Urticaceae Burning nettle Urtica urens
 
Zygophyllaceae Puncturevine* Tribulus terrestris
 
 
Grasses and Sedges
Poaceae Wild oat Avena fatua
 
  Large crabgrass Digitaria sanguinalis
link to crabgrass pest note
  Junglerice Echinochloa colona
 
  Barnyardgrass* Echinochloa crus-galli
 
  Fescues Festuca spp.
 
  Foxtail barley Hordeum jubatum
 
  Hare barley Hordeum murinum spp. leporinum
 
  Sprangletops Leptochloa spp.
 
  Italian ryegrass Lolium multiflorum
 
  Witchgrass Panicum capillare
 
  Dallisgrass Paspalum dilatatum
link to dallisgrass pest note 
  Canarygrass Phalaris canariensis  
  Annual bluegrass* Poa annua
link to annual bluegrass pest note 
  Yellow foxtail Setaria pumila  
  Johnsongrass Sorghum halepense
 
  Smallflower umbrella sedge Cyperus difformis
 
  Yellow nutsedge Cyperus esculentus
link to nutsedge pest note

* You will be required to identify seedling stages, as well as the mature stage of these plants.

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Statewide IPM Program, Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California
All contents copyright © 2004 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.

For noncommercial purposes only, any Web site may link directly to this page. FOR ALL OTHER USES or more information, read Legal Notices. Unfortunately, we cannot provide individual solutions to specific pest problems. See How to manage pests, or in the U.S., contact your local Cooperative Extension office for assistance. /PCA/pcaweed.html revised: June 18, 2004. Contact webmaster.