Common Cocklebur

Common Cocklebur, Rough Cocklebur

(Xanthium strumarium L.)

Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)

▲ ▼ seedlings

▲ ▼ young plants

▲ mature plant

▲ leaf

▲ young inflorescences

▲ speckled stems

▲ mature inflorescences

▲ fruit

Cocklebur:

native american, warm-season, summer annual broadleaf weed in Aster Family
has much branched, rough-textured stem, 1-3' tall
has large, triangular, lobed/toothed leaves
produces bur-like inflorescence and fruit which sticks to anything passing by when ripe
major agronomic weed; prefers fertile, well-drained soils
can be a green manure crop, if tilled under before seed set
similar to velvetleaf in crop damage potential