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Common Crupina - Crupina vulgaris Cass.
Figure 1: Common crupina blooming
Common crupina is an invasive plant that can contaminate hay and other forage crops, significantly reducing their value. It decreases pasture capacity and livestock productivity.
The plant also infests grasslands and open forest sites, where it can form dense stands and compete with native plant species.
Key Points:
- Found in areas of the United States but not yet found in Canada.
- A tall invasive plant with pink to purple flowers.
- Contaminates hay and other forage crops, reducing their value.
- Prohibited in seed under the Seeds Act.
Where it's found
Common crupina has not yet been found in Canada. Presently, it can be found in areas of the United States such as Washington, Oregon, Idaho and California. It is known to adapt to a wide range of conditions.
Common crupina is native to the Mediterranean region. It grows in pastures, grasslands, rangelands, hayfields, roadsides, railroads and waste sites. It is rarely found in cultivated crops.
What it looks like
Common crupina can grow up to approximately 1 metre in height. Its leaves have coarse, rough edges and the older leaves are prickly when touched. The flowers are pinkish-purple and measure about 1.3 centimetres long. The seeds (similar in size to a kernel of wheat) are roughly cylindrical and have bristly hairs at the wide end.
How it spreads
Common crupina seeds generally fall only a few metres away from the parent plant. However, seeds can be transported with animal and human movement (including machinery), in soil, and in contaminated hay, grain and seed lots.
Legislation
Common crupina is listed as a prohibited noxious weed on the Weed Seeds Order under the Seeds Act. Its presence in domestic and imported seed for planting is prohibited.
What we can do about it
There are steps you can take to help stop the spread of this weed in Canada:
- Use certified seed;
- Use clean hay, grain and straw;
- Look for common crupina in crops and in disturbed areas; and,
- Maintain healthy and diverse pastures.
Reporting this invasive plant should be done through your local CFIA office. For a list of offices please call 1-800-442-2342 or visit the the CFIA website at: www.inspection.gc.ca.
Click on image for larger view
Figure 2: Common crupina leaves
Figure 3: Seed of common crupina
Figure 4: Common crupina flower
Photo Credits
Figure 1: Common crupina blooming
Photo: Virtual field guide, www.idahoweedawareness.org
Figure 2: Common crupina leaf
Photo: Cindy Roché, 2003
Figure 3: Seed of common crupina
Photo: Cindy Roché, 2003
Figure 4: Common crupina flower
Photo: Douglas Barbe, CDFA 2001
Invasive plants are plant species that spread when introduced outside of their natural past or present distribution and cause serious and often irreversible damage to Canada’s ecosystems, economy and society.
