Which type of herbicide would be least likely to discriminate between various plant types?

The least likely to discriminate between various plant types is a non-selective herbicide. Non-selective herbicides are designed to kill or damage all plant materials they come into contact with, without regard to the specific type of vegetation. This is ideal for applications where complete control of vegetation is necessary, such as in the clearing of fields or on paths.

By contrast, selective herbicides are formulated to target specific species while leaving others unharmed, which is particularly useful in agricultural settings where certain crops need to be protected from weed competition. Translocated herbicides are absorbed by plants and then moved throughout the plant system, affecting the entire plant, but they may still show selectivity based on the type of plants that absorb them. Residual herbicides act by remaining in the soil and controlling weed growth over time, but they may also be selective about the types of plants that are affected based on their tolerance and the soil conditions.

Given their broad-spectrum activity, non-selective herbicides can significantly alter ecosystems and are chosen for their effectiveness in removing undesirable vegetation without discrimination among various plant species.