Friday, July 12, 2013

Wildflowers of Ainsworth: Buffalo Bur

All of a sudden I find this stuff growing in my front yard.

Buffalo Bur
(Click on images to enlarge)

It's a member of the nightshade family. Even more thorny than horse nettle. Jack Sanders says it's a good thing this plant is so prickly; otherwise animals might eat it, and the leaves are "very toxic."

The fruits (seed pods) are said to be prickly as well. I'm not sure this specimen has any fruit yet, unless this little prickle-studded bulb is a baby fruit:

Buffalo Bur fruit

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