CLEMSON, S.C. — Invasive weeds are troublesome in agronomic cropping systems and nearby non-crop environments. Benghal dayflower (Commelina benghalensis L.), also known as tropical spiderwort, was first detected in South Carolina by the Clemson University Department of Plant Industry in 2013.1 Infestations have now been documented in agronomic fields in South Carolina. Once established, this invasive weed reproduces prolifically by producing both aboveground and belowground flowers and fruit, increasing the number of seeds in the soil seedbank. This article discusses Benghal dayflower identification, biology, and control options in corn, cotton, peanut, and soybean.
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–Michael Marshall, Clemson University