Xanthium strumarium
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Xanthium americanum
- Xanthium chinense
- Xanthium speciosum
- Phonetic Spelling
- ZAN-thee-um stroo-MAR-ee-um
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Cocklebur is a summer annual weed in the daisy family that is native to Europe and has naturalized elsewhere. They grow 2-4 feet tall and prefer moist to wet sandy loam or loams in full sun to partial shade. It cannot grow in full shade.
They have minimal branching, except for short side stems that develop from the leaf axils. The central stem ends in a spike-like raceme similar to the racemes of the leaf axils. Cocklebur is monoecious, that is having both male and female reproductive organs on a plant. Each raceme produces several male compound flowers along the upper half and several female compound flowers along the lower half. Pollination occurs by wind, reproduction by self-seeding. This often leads to colonies being formed.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Their aggressive growth can be a problem for pastures, fields, roadsides, along stream banks, dunes or poorly drained areas. The burs attach to clothing and animal fur for dispersal by short hooked prickles. Young Cocklebur seedlings exude toxic chemicals that can affect germination of surrounding plants, or kill seedlings.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Xanthium
- Species:
- strumarium
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Inspired the invention of velcro. Fruits were used as a yellow dye. The fruit, a prickly bur, hitchhikes on fur, hair and clothing. Native American tribes used the cocklebur medicinally, as a food source (seeds), and in ceremonies. The seed pods may have been used to make a yellow dye.
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe
- Distribution:
- Throughout the country. Naturalized or invasive in most of the world.
- Wildlife Value:
- Xanthium strumarium is not a significant food source for pollinators or wildlife. However, many insects do feed on this plant.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Larval Host
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 0 ft. 4 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Ground Cover
- Poisonous
- Weed
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Coarse
- Appendage:
- Prickles
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasional Flooding
- Occasionally Wet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- 1/2 to 1.5-inch 2-chambered, ovoid shaped bur covered in hooked prickles.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Insignificant
- Raceme
- Spike
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- Bracts
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Greenish flowers in the axil of leaves. Monoecious heads of either pistillate or staminate florets. Pistilate heads develop into hard, pricky bur
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Rough
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Deltoid
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Up to 8" inch long ovate to triangular leaves with stiff hairs and irregularly lobed margins. The upper leaf surface has a sandpaper texture. The underside is a light green then the upper.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Buds:
- Hairy
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Stems have short white hairs and dark red or black streaks. They can be round or slightly ribbed.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Problems:
- Allelopathic
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Horses
- Weedy
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- High
- Poison Symptoms:
- Poisoning leads to vomiting, weakness, muscular spasms and sometimes coma and death of the animal.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- The glycocide carboxyatractyloside is present in the cotyledon stage. It causes hypoglycemia in animals that ingest the seedling
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Leaves
- Seeds
