Weed Science is facing two critical challenges. They are funding and interdisciplinary research, which to some extent are intertwined, but I will attempt to discuss them separately. Although some of my remarks may be critical of weed scientists let me say at the outset that the main reason we have these two challenges is because we have been highly successful, thanks to our visionary and dedicated scientists over the years. We have stayed ahead of the curve and have done too good a job. I would like to point out here that contrary to the beliefs of many outside our profession, we do more than spray and pray. We are ahead of the curve because we have conducted extensive and intensive research on application technology, formulations, environmental impacts, metabolism, mode of action, tillage practices, and many other areas.

There are about 130 species of Linaria, a genus of hardy herbs with whorled or opposite leaves; a few species are sub-shrubs. The genus, native to Eurasia, is widely dispersed. Closely related but separated from Linaria are the genera Kickxia and Cymbalaria.