An apparatus (22) for selectively discriminating vegetation or plant matter(28) comprises a light emitting means (24), a light sensing means (30) and adistance sensing means (34). The light emitting means generates a beam oflight (26) that can be directed onto plants or plant matter moving relative tothe apparatus. The light sensing means senses light transmitted from saidlight emitting means and reflected from the plants or plant matter, andgenerates a reflection signal in response to the sensing of the reflectedlight. The distance sensing means senses the relative distance moved andgenerates a distance signal. A processing means (32) is operatively connectedto the light sensing means and the distance sensing means to combine thereflection signal and distance signal to discriminate different types ofplants or plant matter.
