rough cocklebur
Xanthium strumarium
The unique hooked structure of the cocklebur's seed pods directly inspired the Swiss engineer George de Mestral to invent Velcro in 1941.
- Scientific name
- Xanthium strumarium
- Taxonomy
- Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Asterales › Asteraceae › Xanthium
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- increasing
- Biome
- grassland
- Habitat
- Disturbed fields, agricultural lands, riverbanks, and roadsides
- Diet
- Autotrophic (photosynthesis)
- Range
- North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia
- Size
- 30 to 150 cm (1 to 5 feet) tall
- Lifespan
- Annual (less than 1 year)
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Herbicide application, agricultural tilling, and biological control agents like rust fungi.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless to touch, but the spiked burrs cling aggressively to clothing and animal fur, which can cause skin irritation. The seeds and seedlings are highly toxic to humans and livestock if ingested; if consumed, seek immediate medical or veterinary attention.
Xanthium strumarium ( rough cocklebur , clotbur , common cocklebur , large cocklebur , woolgarie bur ) is a species of annual plants belonging to the Asteraceae family. It probably originates in North America and has been extensively naturalized elsewhere.
Photo: Corey Koala, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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