Doveweed (Murdannia nudiflora) is a summer annual weed that usually germinates later in the growing season than most other summer annual weeds and becomes a problem late in the summer. Doveweed closely resembles a grass. Upon closer inspection, you will find that doveweed has stems that root at the nodes and purple flowers that appear on short stalks in clusters. The leaves are linear, and approximately ³⁄₄ to 4 inches long. Leaf sheaths have soft hairs on the upper margins. Fruits are classified as capsules and are only 0.12 to 0.2 inches (3 to 5 mm) wide.

Maintain a dense, actively growing turf through proper mowing, fertilizing, and watering practices. Mow at the proper height for your selected adapted turfgrass. Coring and traffic control reduce compaction and encourage desirable turfgrass competition. It is best to control this summer annual broadleaf weed in late spring or early summer because it is easier to control at this time and the turf will have a greater chance of recovering the areas previously occupied by weeds.

• GROWTH SEASON / LIFE CYCLE
  • summer annual weed
• GROWTH HABIT
  • prostrate, spreading; low-lying stems root at the nodes
    Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3, Figure 4, Figure 5, Figure 6, Figure 7
• LEAFLET NUMBER
  • one
    Figure 8
• LEAF MARGIN
  • smooth
• LEAF HAIRS
  • soft hairs on leaf sheath upper margins
• LEAF / LEAFLET SHAPE
  • linear / oblong
• LEAF WIDTH
  • 0.08 - 0.2 inches (2 to 5 mm) wide
• LEAF VENATION
  • parallel
• LEAF ARRANGEMENT
  • alternate
    ​Figure 9, Figure 10
• ROOT TYPE
  • fibrous
• FLOWER COLOR
  • blue / purple

Figure 1. Doveweed growth habit.

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Figure 1. Doveweed growth habit.

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Figure 2. Doveweed growth habit.

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Figure 2. Doveweed growth habit.

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Figure 3. Doveweed growth habit.

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Figure 3. Doveweed growth habit.

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Figure 4. Doveweed growth habit.

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Figure 4. Doveweed growth habit.

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Figure 5. Doveweed growth habit.

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Figure 5. Doveweed growth habit.

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Figure 6. Doveweed growth habit.

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Figure 6. Doveweed growth habit.

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Figure 7. Doveweed growth habit.

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Figure 7. Doveweed growth habit.

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Figure 8. Doveweed leaflet number.

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Figure 8. Doveweed leaflet number.

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Figure 9. Doveweed leaf arrangement.

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Figure 9. Doveweed leaf arrangement.

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Figure 10. Doveweed leaf arrangement.

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Figure 10. Doveweed leaf arrangement.

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