XANTHIUM SPINOSUM

Family:- COMPOSITAE

Common Names:- Spiny cocklebur

Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Xanthium (Gr) A name used by the Greek physician and botanist

Dioscorides for Cocklebur, from which a yellow hair dye was made.

Spinosum (L) Spiny, with spines.

Stem:-

1) 15-100 cm, much branched, with 1-2 stout, 3-fid, yellow spines in the leaf-

axils, the spines rarely more or less connate at the base or replaced by leaf

fascicles.

Leaves:-

1) Sessile or shortly petiolate.

2) Lamina entire or 3- to 5-fid, dark green above, white- or grey-tomentose beneath.

Flowers:-

1) Male capitula in terminal inflorescences, the female axillary.

2) Involucre 10-12 x 6-8 mm in fruit, covered with slender spines.

Fruit:-

1) Fruit-heads 8-12 mm, covered with dense, hooked spines.

Key features:-

1) Leaves sessile or shortly petiolate, white- or grey-tomentose beneath, with

1-2, 3-fid, yellow spines at base (rarely replaced by small leaves).

2) Fruit-heads 8-12 mm, covered with dense, hooked spines.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Coastal habitats, wasteground, field margins, (nitrophilous). 0-600 m.

Distribution:- Widespread across the Mediterranean. Limited distribution and

occurrence on Crete. Introduced

Flowering time:- July-Oct

Photos by:- Steve Lenton