Species Detail Forb

Burs Willow Dells Tr - Sue Smith		Yavapai County Native & Naturalized Plants Xanthium strumarium - rough cocklebur Synonyms: Xanthium acerosum, Xanthium californicum, Xanthium californicum var. rotundifolium, Xanthium campestre, Xanthium canadense Other Common Names: common cocklebur, Canada cockleburr, cocklebur, cockleburr Plant Form: Forb or Subshrub Family: Asteraceae
Burs Willow Dells Tr - Sue Smith


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Leaves Willow Dells Tr Sue Smith	Leaves Willow Dells Tr Sue Smith	Plant - summer Willow Dells Tr Sue Smith	Plant - summer Willow Dells Tr Sue Smith

Forb Plant Description

Origin: Native Life Cycle: Annual
General Desc: Bushy annual with spiny burs that get tangled in fur and fabric.
Identification notes: Annual, moderately to much branched; leaf blades triangular or broadly ovate, green beneath; flower heads inconspicuous in sessile axillary clusters; flowers produce brownish or yellowish-brownish ellipsoid burs; found in moist, disturbed areas.
Height: To 5 feet

Habitat

Habitat Description: Waste places, disturbed moist areas, fallow fields, sandy flood plains and shorelines, stream and river banks, margins of ponds and lakes; sandy and alkaline soils.
Plant Communities: Riparian, Disturbed Areas
Elevation: 1000 - 7000 feet

Flower Characteristics

Color: Greenish Shape: Inconspicuous in round clusters Tubular: N Flowering Period: Jul - Oct
Description: Male flowers are tiny, in clusters at top of stem. Female flower heads are in leaf axils and form spiny, up to 1-1/2 inches long burs.

Leaf and Stem Characteristics

Leaf Color: Yellowish-green Leaf Type: Simple Leaf Shape: Triangular Leaf Margin: Toothed Leaf Attachment: Alternate Leaves Clasp: N
Hairs: Leaves and stems Spines: N
Leaf Description: Triangular or broadly egg-shaped to circular or kidney-shaped, 1-1/2 to 7-1/2 inches long, 1 to 6 inches wide; surfaces rough-hairy, palmately veined; margins coarsely-toothed and un-lobed or with 3 or 5 shallow lobes; tip rounded or broadly pointed.

Fruit and Seed Characteristics

Fruit Color: Brownish or yellowish-brown
Fruit Notes: Fruits are cylindrical to barrel-shaped and hard, spiny burs; green drying to brown; burs can stick to fur and clothing and can be very difficult to extract.
Seed Notes: Burs contain 2 seeds each in their own compartment. One of the seeds in each bur may germinate the following year with the other seed taking at least 2 years to germinate.


	Arizona Cooperative Extension Yavapai County 840 Rodeo Dr #C Prescott, AZ 86305 (928) 445-6590	Version 8.0 http://cales.arizona.edu/yavapaiplants/SpeciesDetailForb.php Last Updated: Dec 13, 2022 Content Questions/Comments: Email Matt Halldorson Legal Disclaimer