Niruri

Laurene Hall

Horticulture Program Assistant

 

                    

 

 

Scientific Name: Phyllanthus niruri

By: Laurene Hall

Horticultural Program Assistant

 

Niruri is a summer annual weed that is commonly found in home lawns. It is native to Asia but found throughout Georgia, Florida, Alabama, South Carolina, New Mexico and Texas. It is in the Spurge family and reproduces by numerous seeds that are often found in the fruit which is attached to the underside of the branch.

OTHER COMON NAMES: Gripeweed, Leaf-flower, Little Mimosa, Cannonball Weed, Gale-of-the-Wind

IDENTIFICATION: Small, erect plant with angled or grooved stems.  Leaves have thin, smooth

margins that are oblong and arranged in two rows on branchlets. When it does flower during the warm months, they are small and inconspicuous. This weed is also easily identified by its smooth, round green fruit that is attached to the undersides of the stems.  Chamberbitter [Phyllanthus urinaria L.] is a similar species and also a summer annual. The fruit on the Chamberbitter plant are covered with small ridges resembling warts. When ripe, the fruit of Chamberbitter open up explosively and allows the plant to spread. 

APPEARANCE: Occurs frequently in turf, planting, nurseries, and in other disturbed habitats.

DAMAGE: Niruri poses a problem in lawns and landscapes because it often grows faster and has a more vigorous growth habit than other plants. Because of its explosive fruit eruptions, it readily volunteers itself unexpected areas such as through bark or rock mulches, in shrub plantings, and flowerbeds.

 

 

 

 

IPM MANAGEMENT: If Niruri is already present in your landscape, you may prevent its spread by removal of the plant before it seeds and produces fruit.  Pull small plants up by hand or hand-hoe. If you hoe, be sure to dig at least 4 – 6 inches deep to remove the whole plant. In addition to consistently removing small plants, Niruri populations may also be reduced through proper mulching techniques.

Chemical Control: There are several effective chemical application solutions available to the homeowner for control of Niruri. The use of pre-emergent herbicides at the right time of year may help with control of this weed. If large amounts of Niruri are found in patches in turf or ornamental plantings, use of a post-emergent herbicide may be necessary.  Please contact your local Extension office for recommendations of effective herbicides for controlling Niruri.

SOURCES:

Color Atlas of Turfgrass Weeds, Everest, J.W., Hall, D.W., McCarty, L.B., Murphy, T.R., Yelverton, T., Ann Arbor Press, Chelsea, MI 2001.

Pictures

http://www.griffin.peachnet.edu/cssci/TURF/niruri.pdf

 

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/BODY_LH033

 

http://www.cropsoil.uga.edu/weedsci/slides/ornhome/sld030.htm