Spiny clotbur, Spiny cocklebur
Xanthium spinosum

Family: Asteraceae

What it is like

A medium sized stiffly branched annual herb. It grows 1 m high. It has simple or 3 forked yellowish spines at the base of each leaf. The fruit heads are 8-12 mm across. They are covered with dense, hooked spines.

Where it is found

It is a temperate or Mediterranean plant. It grows on cultivated and waste grounds. It grows in warm temperate places. It grows in wet alkaline soils. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 2,500 m above sea level. Tasmania Herbarium.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Canada,Central Asia, Chile, China, East Africa, Eswatini, Europe, France, Greece, India, Italy, Korea, Mediterranean, North America (country/location of origin), Paraguay, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, Swaziland, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, Uruguay, USA, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The seeds yield an oil which is edible.

Edible parts

Seeds - oil

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Abrojillo, Abrojo chico, Bathurst burr, Cadillo, Cepa caballo, Cloncli, Histiri zer, Trnati bodič

Synonyms

Acanthoxanthium spinosum (L.) E. Fourn.;