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Xanthium strumarium Linnaeus. Common name: European Cocklebur. Phenology: Jul-Nov. Habitat: Ballast, waste areas near ports. Distribution: Native of Europe.

Origin/Endemic status: Europe

Synonymy : = F, Fernald (1946), Tomasello (2018); = n/a – Tat; = Xanthium strumarium L. ssp. strumarium var. strumarium – Löve & Dansereau (1959); = Xanthium strumarium L. var. strumarium – C, G, K1, NE, NY; < Xanthium strumarium L. – FNA21, K3, K4, Mi, Mo2, Pa

Links to other floras: < Xanthium strumarium - FNA21

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FAC (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FAC (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
  • Great Plains: FAC (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
  • Midwest: FAC (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
  • Northcentral & Northeast: FAC (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)

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image of plant© Bruce Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Aidan Campos source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Aidan Campos source
image of plant© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Aidan Campos source
image of plant© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Bruce Sorrie
image of plant© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© J.W. Hardin | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Erect to ascending annual of disturbed ground, roadsides, pastures, barnyards and beaches.

Stems: Stems thick and ridged, branched, often reddish or speckled with purple, smooth or with hairs pressed to stem.

Leaves: Leaves alternate (lowermost may be opposite), on long reddish-green petioles, triangular-oval to nearly round, 2-6 in. long, with 3-5 irregularly toothed lobes, green above and beneath, slightly rough above.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Composite flowers (heads) in clusters of 2-4 in leaf axils; heads rounded to cylindric and consisting of greenish-white, minute male or female disk florets interspersed with spines.

Fruits: Fruit a spiny, cylindircal bur.

Comments:

Height: 1-6 ft.

plant sale text:

bloom table text:

description: Erect to ascending annual of disturbed ground, roadsides, pastures, barnyards and beaches.

stems: Stems thick and ridged, branched, often reddish or speckled with purple, smooth or with hairs pressed to stem.

leaves: Leaves alternate (lowermost may be opposite), on long reddish-green petioles, triangular-oval to nearly round, 2-6 in. long, with 3-5 irregularly toothed lobes, green above and beneath, slightly rough above.

inflorescence:

flowers: Composite flowers (heads) in clusters of 2-4 in leaf axils; heads rounded to cylindric and consisting of greenish-white, minute male or female disk florets interspersed with spines.

fruits: Fruit a spiny, cylindircal bur.

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cultural notes:

germination code:

native range: