Xanthium strumarium L.
Family: Asteraceae, Tribe: Heliantheae
Pertinent Synonyms & Notes (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other synonyms)
including ssp. canadense (Mill.) Torrey & A. Gray and many other infraspecific taxa
Pertinent Common Names (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other common names)
common cocklebur
Primary Disseminule Type
spiny bur
Description (diagnostics are in brown)
Disseminule a spiny bur consisting of a hardened receptacle tightly enclosing two cypselae.
Bur ellipsoid, brown, 10–35 mm long x 8–20 mm diameter, with numerous spines, two chambers and a pair of conspicuous thick, straight or curved beaks (4–6 mm long) at apex. Spines stout, ca. 3–6 mm long, ± straight and then hooked at tip, lower portion often stiff glandular-hairy or sometimes minutely glandular to glabrous.
Similar Species
Risk Assessment (codes in yellow or red indicate cause for concern; assessments are current as of mid-2011; click AUQP, NZBORIC, or NZBPI for access to the most recent versions of these databases and possible assessment changes)
AUQP, AUWP, NZWP, NZBORIC, NZBPI