- 1). Look for a low-growing narrow stalk that is bright green in color, growing in densely packed soil and in full sunlight. The stalk will have five or more long off-shoots sprouting from the top with small brown leaves. These plants are called Indian goosegrass and they are a common Malaysian weed.
- 2). Look for a large stalked plant that can grow up to 70 inches in height. These plants have thick stalks and heavy leaves that produce puffy red blooms. This common weed of Malaysia is the redflower ragleaf, and though parts of the plant are used medicinally, it also contains substances that are toxic to humans when consumed.
- 3). Look for the invasive disk water hyssop along waterways in both Malaysia and the United States. These aquatic plants have small, six-veined leaves that are usually less than one inch in diameter. During the fall, the plant produces small white flowers.
- 4). Identify black nightshade, a common Malaysian weed, by looking for a shrub in wooded areas that is 12 to 48 inches high. These weeds have heart-shaped leaves with jagged edges and produce clusters of black berries.
- 5). Identify the globe fingerush by looking for clusters of thin, upright weeds under three feet in height. The globe fingerush frequently grows in rice paddies throughout Malaysia and Asia. They have thin, flat leaves and a spiked top that appears light brown in color.