IDENTIFICATION
Regional Noxious. Annual.
Because the white flowers open only near dusk, a distinguishing feature
of this plant is the calyx, or covering
of the flower, which is sticky and hairy with ten prominent, branching,
green veins. Night-flowering catchfly has lance-shaped upper and
spoon -shaped lower leaves, both hairy and sticky. Mature plants are 20-90
cm tall.
DAMAGE
Night-flowering catchfly, with its prolific seed production, can
rapidly infest grain fields, legume crops, and pastures, and can be a
problem in gardens and nurseries. Livestock will usually not eat it. It
contaminates clover and forage seed, making it difficult to clean and
less valuable.
HABITAT
In British Columbia, night-flowering catchfly grows in fields,
disturbed areas, and roadsides at low- to mid-elevations. It requires
high summer temperatures for germination. It is found in all agricultural
regions in the province and is considered a noxious weed in the Peace
River region.
SPREAD
Most seeds fall to the ground near the parent plant. Contaminated seed
has been an important source of dispersal as seed is very similar to crop
clovers and difficult to separate.
