Cockleburs
ExplorePlants
Cockleburs
Xanthium
Cockleburs are prickly plants that grow in fields and along roadsides. They have big, spiky seed pods that can stick to your clothes and fur, helping them spread their seeds!
Habitat: Grasslands
Appearance
The Cockleburs is a coarse, annual plant with broad, heart-shaped leaves and sturdy, often reddish-brown stems. Its most distinctive feature is its hard, oval burrs covered in stiff, hooked spines, which mature from green to light brown.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderAsteralesFamilyAsteraceaeGenusXanthium
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
2/5 · Low
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Interesting facts
A single, mature cocklebur plant can produce hundreds of spiky burrs, each with seeds inside!
Cockleburs are considered an invasive weed in many parts of the world, spreading very quickly!
Each spiky burr often contains two seeds, which can sprout at different times for better survival!
The hooked spines of cockleburs actually inspired the invention of Velcro by a curious engineer!
Special abilities
Ability
Hitchhiker Seeds
Cockleburs has spiky burrs that latch onto animal fur or human clothes, helping its seeds travel far to new places.
Ability
Underground Survivor
Cockleburs seeds can stay dormant in the soil for many years, waiting for the perfect time to sprout and grow.
Ability
Toxic Defense
Cockleburs contains toxins, especially in young plants and seeds, that can deter hungry animals from eating it.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 30-150 cm
- Spread
- 20-100 cm
- Bloom Season
- Late summer to fall
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- High
- Lifecycle
- Annual
- Pollination Method
- Wind
Ecological connections
depends on
Domestic Dog
Canis familiaris
for seed dispersal via fur.
depends on
Human
Homo sapiens
for seed dispersal via clothes.
parasitizes
Cocklebur Rust
Puccinia xanthii
infects leaves and stems, weakening the plant.
Traits
Deciduous
Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Edible
Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
Grassland
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Rapid Growing
Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period.
Spiky/Thorny
Possessing sharp, pointed projections or spines on the body or surface.
Invasive
Invasive species are non-native organisms that cause harm to the environment, economy, or human health.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
2/5 · Low
Be careful not to touch the spiky pods, as they can be prickly!
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Cockleburs?
30-150 cm
How wide does Cockleburs spread?
20-100 cm
When does Cockleburs bloom?
Late summer to fall
Is Cockleburs edible?
No
Is Cockleburs toxic?
High
What is Cockleburs's lifecycle?
Annual
How is Cockleburs pollinated?
Wind
Where is Cockleburs usually found?
Grasslands
Snap Map
Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.
Loading map…
Recent Snaps
Recent snaps will appear here as new observations are added.
.jpg&width=800)
