Redrawn by Patricia Wynne, based on her drawing in Gary A. Stobel, "Biological Control of Weeds," Scientific American, 265 (July 1991), p.74. (Source: Tufte, E. R., 1997, Visual Explanations: Images and Quantities, Evidence and Narrative, Graphics Press, p 126).

Caption: ULTIMATE WEED has no redeeming features. Unsightly and useless, it is unpalatable or toxic to animals and devoid of sugar for honey. It grows tall, proliferates rapidly and actively inhibits the development of other plants (allelopathy). It also triggers allergic reactions in humans. And it won't go away: with its long taproot and rosettes, it resists mechanical removal, and it defies elimination by herbicides.

The applied image always has a communicative objective.