Xanthium strumarium Linnaeus. Section: Xanthium. 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, NE, NY; < Xanthium strumarium L. — FNA21, K4, Mi, Mo2, Pa. Basionym: Xanthium strumarium L. 1753
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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Horticultural Information
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.
comments:
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range:
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