topic Re: ? On a Weed???? in Garden

? On a Weed????

terrier3 — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 17:53:58 GMT

Yesterday I spent almost 3 hours out in the hot sun...pulling up weeds in the hosta beds.

They were pretty tall, looked like dandelion leaves, but THORNY (small, sharp thorns)/ The flowers were on a cehter stalk, white & yellow. They were easy to pull up.

BUT, they HURT and today my eyes are half closed shut - I think I wiped the sweat from my brow and probably got some part of the plant on my face.

Any ideas? Upstate NY.

TIA!

Re: ? On a Weed????

Susan-QVC — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 18:01:34 GMT

This post has been removed by QVC.

Re: ? On a Weed????

GingerPeach — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 18:14:04 GMT

I doubt you can do anything to remove the plant oils/irritation since I imagine you've already washed your face a couple of times by now.

Maybe take a bit of Benadryl, and keep your eyes cool, with an ice pack or something like that.

If it doesn't resolve itself by tomorrow, call your doctor. I would expect this to be temporary.

If you could, post a picture of the plant/weed.

Re: ? On a Weed????

KingstonsMom — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 18:19:12 GMT

Maybe take some benadryl & use some calamine or a cortisone cream on your skin?

I've had the same thing happen more than once when dealing plants/weeds!

Of course, I'm not a medical professional, but this is what's helped me.

Good luck & let us know how you do!

Re: ? On a Weed????

KingstonsMom — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 18:25:59 GMT

Could it be this one?

GROWTH HABIT: Annual, erect to 2 feet tall.
LEAVES: 2 to 5 inches long, deep lobed, covered with spines on the under side.
STEMS: Covered with sharp spines.
FLOWER: Yellow, 1 inch wide, 5 lobed, bloom throughout the summer.
ROOTS: Taproot.
SEEDS: Numerous, small, black, wrinkled, flattened, seeds in a spine covered capsule.
OTHER: Native to U.S. on disturbed prairie and wastelands.

Re: ? On a Weed????

Nataliesgramma — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 18:26:30 GMT

I am guessing that it might be some kind of Thistle...

Re: ? On a Weed????

JustJazzmom — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 18:59:58 GMT

@terrier3

Did it have a taproot as a dandelion does?

Were the leaves hairy or fuzzy in certain areas?

It does sound like a thistle which does have yellow flowers and they can get HUGE over time.

If I see them in my garden beds I always wear gloves as their thorns can stick to your skin and pinch your fingers. I figure this was an evolutionary thing so animals would not eat the leaves (hurt the insides of their mouths).

I always wear gloves whenever I am gardening because you never know when you see a weed and that weed might be a thistle or some poison ivy seedling.

Re: ? On a Weed????

terrier3 — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 20:02:36 GMT

I thought thistles had round flowers?

This DID have fuzzy areas - that's how I got badly cut up...I didn't realize that they were SHARP!

I think I got them all (for now) If I can find one, I'll take a pic.

Thanks all!!!!

Re: ? On a Weed????

Nataliesgramma — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 23:39:49 GMT

I agree about wearing gloves.....I got some with rubber palms that are thicker that I like alot at Lowes.

Re: ? On a Weed????

GingerPeach — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 21:17:43 GMT

@terrier3 I'm guessing it might have been this (prickly lettuce, or latuca serriola). Apparently it is edible. I have these in my yard also. They are surprisingly prickly.

Re: ? On a Weed????

JustJazzmom — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 20:59:36 GMT

@terrier3 wrote:
I thought thistles had round flowers?

This DID have fuzzy areas - that's how I got badly cut up...I didn't realize that they were SHARP!

I think I got them all (for now) If I can find one, I'll take a pic.

Thanks all!!!!

Whenever I see them around here I use my dandelion tool to remove them.

Great website for Weeds ID that are active in your area.

Yellow thistle or horrible thistle is active in the NE Region now.

Re: ? On a Weed????

Bayside — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 20:17:52 GMT

Sorry to hear about your eye irritation. Loving gardening as I do, wearing garden gloves it's a must for me. A year ago, I was pulling weeds and developed some type of irritation on my hands. Since then, gloves are on even when watering my outdoor plants. With the high humidity here in PA for the last few days, the weeds are growing like there's no tomorrow. Hope you're feeling better.

Re: ? On a Weed????

JustJazzmom — Wed, 22 Jul 2015 02:11:18 GMT

@Bayside wrote:
Sorry to hear about your eye irritation. Loving gardening as I do, wearing garden gloves it's a must for me. A year ago, I was pulling weeds and developed some type of irritation on my hands. Since then, gloves are on even when watering my outdoor plants. With the high humidity here in PA for the last few days, the weeds are growing like there's no tomorrow. Hope you're feeling better.

Some people even develop a contact dermatitis from being in contact around junipers. Wear gloves!

Re: ? On a Weed????

terrier3 — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 13:09:42 GMT

@JustJazzmom wrote:
@terrier3 wrote:
I thought thistles had round flowers?

This DID have fuzzy areas - that's how I got badly cut up...I didn't realize that they were SHARP!

I think I got them all (for now) If I can find one, I'll take a pic.

Thanks all!!!!
Whenever I see them around here I use my dandelion tool to remove them.

Great website for Weeds ID that are active in your area.

Yellow thistle or horrible thistle is active in the NE Region now.

THANK YOU for this site!!!! JustJazzMom, you're the best!

I found it - Horsenettle.....YUCK!!!!

Re: ? On a Weed????

keeper of the koi — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 15:49:56 GMT

Terrier, how are you doing now?Hope it is cleared up. Upstate NY too, weeds are taking over this year.... Maryanne

Re: ? On a Weed????

PenneyT — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 14:06:05 GMT

Oh terrier, sorry that you tangled with nettles, they are so awful!

We have bullnettles on some of our property, and I've learned to respect them, lol! They look a lot like your photo, but with tiny white speckles on the leaves.

I brushed up against some once, and they got my ankle. I didn't have any supplies with me, so I improvised. Here is what I did, probably all psychological, but hey, it worked, lol!: I put some clear packing tape over the site, and left it on for hours. It seemed to really help, and kept the pain and itch to a minimum. I hope this helps anyone who has the misfortune to meet this unforgiving plant, lol!