Species category

Weed

Common name

mat sandbur

Diagnostic characters

Identification notes

BurrsBurr:
Has spikelets or flowers that are compressed closely together by lacking a central axis. The spikelet glumes are hard and pointed, e.g. buffalograss.
are seldom found intact in seed lots; however, spikeletsSpikelet:
One or more florets that are subtended by a pair of bracts called glumes. Spikelets are pedicellate if located on a pedicle and sessile if attached directly to the rachis. Often spikelets with single florets have remnants of a second floret, usually a lemma.
, floretsFloret:
A small flower in a clustered inflorescence (e.g., sunflower, grasses). In grasses, a floret consists of the lemma, palea, stamens, and pistil.
, and caryopsesCaryopsis:
The single-seeded fruit or grain of the grass family (Poaceae); the fruit wall (pericarp) is united with the seed coat (testa).
are found. The lemmaLemma:
One of two bracts of the grass floret; it is located on the side nearest the embryo and opposite the rachilla.
of the floretFloret:
A small flower in a clustered inflorescence (e.g., sunflower, grasses). In grasses, a floret consists of the lemma, palea, stamens, and pistil.
has a U-shaped ridge near the base. The scutellumScutellum:
A shield-shaped highly modified, single cotyledon in grasses (Poaceae) that absorbs nutrients from the endosperm and provides energy for germination.
line of the caryopsisCaryopsis:
The single-seeded fruit or grain of the grass family (Poaceae); the fruit wall (pericarp) is united with the seed coat (testa).
extends to nearly the apexApical:
The distal end of the fruit or seed away from the point of attachment or attachment scar.
. The spines are oriented more vertically than lateral.

Noxious weed seed categories

State Noxious Weed: Arizona, California, Colorado, North Carolina, Wyoming 

AOSA examination list

Not included

More information

For more information, see ISMA fact sheet.

Nomenclature