This weed is becoming an increasing problem in western Canada in no-till fields because it is germinating in the fall, i.e. a winter annual life cycle. Winter annuals will be growing rapidly at the time of burndown. Night-flowering catchfly has sticky stems and leaves. Catchfly is an annual plant so it always starts from a single stem. The weed may branch near the top of the plant.
Flowers are white or pinkish-white.
It is easy to tell from the other weed species listed here because the leaves are very long and narrow, the leaves are hairy, and the flowers are large and red to purplish-red. I have not seen this weed in Michigan no-till fields. Cow cockle is an annual weed that will start with a single stem and be quite branched in the upper part of the plant. Stems are smooth with swollen nodes. Leaves are smooth and are rounded at the base and the leaves will sometimes clasp the stem at the leaf base.