Xanthium commune
Britton
Abrojo, Canada Cockleburr
Wikimedia Commons - Oceancetaceen - Alice Chodura
Wikimedia Commons - Didier Descouens
What to Eat
Edible parts: Seeds
The seeds are dried, ground into a powder, and mixed with cereal flours to make bread, biscuits, and similar products. Some caution is advised regarding toxicity.
Known Hazards
Where to Find It
It is a temperate plant.
Canada, North America, USA,
How to Identify
Xanthium commune is a tall annual reaching 1.5 m (5 ft). Flowering occurs from July to October with seeds ripening from August to October. The plant is monoecious and self-fertile, pollinated by insects. It adapts to light sandy, medium loamy, or heavy clay soils across mildly acidic to basic pH ranges. It needs full sun and prefers moist soil.
How to Grow
We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it is likely to succeed outdoors in many parts of the country. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. An easily grown plant, it succeeds in most soils but requires a sunny position. Plants often self sow.
Propagation: Sow seed in spring in situ. The seed requires plenty of moisture to germinate.
Medicinal Uses
None known
Other Uses
None known
Wikipedia
Source ↗Xanthium commune is a tall annual reaching 1.5 m (5 ft). Flowering occurs from July to October with seeds ripening from August to October. The plant is monoecious and self-fertile, pollinated by insects. It adapts to light sandy, medium loamy, or heavy clay soils across mildly acidic to basic pH ranges. It needs full sun and prefers moist soil.
References (4)
- Beckstrom-Sternberg, Stephen M., and James A. Duke. "The Foodplant Database." http://probe.nalusda.gov:8300/cgi-bin/browse/foodplantdb.(ACEDB version 4.0 - data version July 1994)
- Kiple, K.F. & Ornelas, K.C., (eds), 2000, The Cambridge World History of Food. CUP p 1759
- Man. fl. n. states 912. 1901
- Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
