Weed of cultivation

Plants that are termed a weed of cultivation are really quite specialised in their requirements as they can usually only thrive and reproduce where the ground has been broken by plough or spade. They are invariably annual and reproduction is by seed alone which can in many species lay dormant for years in the soil until brought to the suface during cultivation. They have fast reproduction cycles, usually in one year from seed to seed, though some species can have more than one generation in one season. A few species such a Groundsel (Senecio vulgaris), Shepherds Purse (Capsella bursa- pastoris), Red Deadnettle (Lamium purpureum) and Chickweed (Stellaria media) can survive unharmed through very cold weather and are often able to seed even in winter.