Illinois Pesticide Applicator Practice Test

What type of weed develops a rosette of leaves after germination in the spring?

1. Perennial

2. Annual

3. Biennial

4. Deciduous

The correct answer is: Biennial

The type of weed that develops a rosette of leaves after germination in the spring is the biennial weed. Biennial weeds typically have a two-year life cycle: in the first year, they germinate and produce a rosette of leaves close to the ground. This rosette formation allows the plants to survive through adverse conditions, such as winter, by storing energy and nutrients in their root systems. In the second year, these weeds will bolt, flower, and produce seeds before dying off. This growth pattern is a key characteristic of biennial plants, distinguishing them from annuals, which complete their life cycle in one year, and perennials, which can live for multiple years and do not usually exhibit the rosette growth habit. Deciduous refers to plants that shed their leaves at certain seasons, which does not apply to the specific growth pattern described. Each category of plant has distinct growth behaviors, but in this context, biennials are the ones that form rosettes in the spring after germination, further solidifying their role in the seasonal lifecycle.