Ornamental and Turf Pesticide Applicators Practice Exam

Which of the following describes the life cycle of a biennial weed?

1. Flowering occurs in the first year

2. They grow and die in one year

3. They flower the second year

4. They do not reproduce

The correct answer is: They flower the second year

The life cycle of a biennial weed is characterized by its development over two growing seasons. During the first year, biennial weeds typically germinate and grow, focusing on establishing a strong root system and vegetative structure. They do not flower in this initial year. It is during the second year that biennial weeds produce flowers and set seeds. This flowering marks the completion of their life cycle, after which they often die following seed production. The other options do not accurately describe biennial weeds: flowering in the first year applies to annuals or certain perennial species, growing and dying in one year pertains to annuals, and biennial weeds do indeed reproduce by flowering and producing seeds in their second year.