Species
Xanthium spinosum
Common Name(s)
Bathurst bur
Family
Asteraceae
Flora Category
Vascular - Exotic
Structural Class
Dicotyledonous Herbs - Composites
Features
An erect, spined plant, annual, growing up to a metre. Spines on the stem are straight but those on the fruit are hooked, enabling seed dispersal in animal fur, wool etc. Leaf underside covered with dense grey-white tomentum. Can be distinguished from X . stromarium by the axillary spines and the short-beaked fruiting involucre.
Similar Taxa
Can be distinguished from X . stromarium by the axillary spines and the short-beaked fruiting involucre.
Flowering
December, January, February, March, April
Fruiting
Dec-July
Year Naturalised
1867
Origin
South America
Dispersal
Animal wool, fur etc. Packs, bags, clothing and any fibrous material. Burs also float on water and are moved rapidly along watercourses.
This page last updated on 18 Jan 2010