Xanthium spinosum invasive in Kashmir

[Gurcharan Singh]

Xanthium spinosum L., Sp. pl. 2:987. 1753

syn: Xanthium ambrosioides Hooker & Arnott

Common names: Bathurst-bur, prickly burweed, spiny cocklebur 

A South American plant having become invasive in many parts of Old World. Perhaps a recent introduction in Kashmir, where it has become common along roadsides and waste places.

Annual plant, up to 1 m tall, often much branched; nodes with spines in pairs, simple or 2-3 partite, 1.5-4 cm long; leaves ovate or ovate-lanceolate, 4-8 cm long, up to 5 cm broad, often 3-7-lobed, shining green on upper surface, gray or white beneath; heads globose, in racemes, lower usually pistillate, upper functionally male; burs enclosing cypselae, prickly, 10-15 mm long.

Photographed from Balgarden (July) and Harwan (August) in Kashmir. I had photographed it last year also but then it was in vegetative state. Was able to get flowers and fruits this year.

--
Dr. Gurcharan Singh
Retired  Associate Professor
SGTB Khalsa College, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007
Res: 932 Anand Kunj, Vikas Puri, New Delhi-110018.
Phone: 011-25518297  Mob: 9810359089
http://people.du.ac.in/~singhg45/

[Balkar Arya]

New to me have seen only Xanthium strumarium. Thanks for sharing

--
Regards

Dr Balkar Singh
Head, Deptt. of Botany and Biotechnology
Arya P G College, Panipat
Haryana-132103
09416262964