buffalo-bur
ExplorePlants
buffalo-bur
Solanum rostratum
Buffalo-bur is a prickly plant with bright yellow flowers that bloom in the summer. Its spiky leaves help protect it from hungry animals. This plant is often found in sunny places and can grow in tough conditions.
Habitat: Grasslands
Appearance
The buffalo-bur is a spiny plant with deeply lobed leaves and bright yellow, star-shaped flowers. Its stems are densely covered in sharp, yellowish spines, and it produces distinctive globe-shaped, bur-like fruits encased in spiny calyces.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderSolanalesFamilySolanaceaeGenusSolanum
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
2/5 · Low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Buffalo-bur is so good at growing, it's considered a successful weed worldwide!
Each dried, spiky bur fruit can hide hundreds of tiny seeds inside.
Native Americans historically used parts of this plant for traditional medicine.
This spiky plant is surprisingly a wild cousin of the potato and tomato!
Special abilities
Ability
Spiny Shield
Buffalo-bur has incredibly sharp spines covering its stems and leaves, helping it defend against hungry herbivores.
Ability
Seed Slinger
Its bur-like fruits cling to passing animals, allowing the buffalo-bur to cleverly spread its seeds far and wide.
Ability
Tough Toxin
This plant produces solanine toxins, making it unappetizing and mildly harmful to animals that try to eat it.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 15-75 cm
- Spread
- 30-60 cm
- Flower Size
- 2-3 cm
- Bloom Season
- Summer to Fall
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- Moderate
- Lifecycle
- Annual
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
Honey bee
Apis mellifera
Collects nectar and pollen.
pollinates
Common eastern bumblebee
Bombus impatiens
Buzz-pollinates for pollen.
eaten by
Colorado potato beetle
Leptinotarsa decemlineata
Larvae may feed on leaves.
Traits
Ornamental
Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.
Summer Blooming
Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
Medicinal
Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
Drought Tolerant
Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability.
Grassland
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Pollinator Magnet
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Spiky/Thorny
Possessing sharp, pointed projections or spines on the body or surface.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
2/5 · Low
Be careful around Buffalo-bur because its spines can poke you!
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is buffalo-bur?
15-75 cm
How wide does buffalo-bur spread?
30-60 cm
How big are the flowers on buffalo-bur?
2-3 cm
When does buffalo-bur bloom?
Summer to Fall
Is buffalo-bur edible?
No
Is buffalo-bur toxic?
Moderate
What is buffalo-bur's lifecycle?
Annual
How is buffalo-bur pollinated?
Insect
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