# Xanthium > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Xanthium > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Xanthium.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xanthium > Source revision: 1306473642 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Genus of plants Xanthium Xanthium strumarium Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae Clade: Embryophytes Clade: Tracheophytes Clade: Spermatophytes Clade: Angiosperms Clade: Eudicots Clade: Asterids Order: Asterales Family: Asteraceae Subfamily: Asteroideae Tribe: Heliantheae Subtribe: Ambrosiinae Genus: Xanthium L. Type species Xanthium strumarium[1][2] L. Synonyms[3] Xanthium sect. Euxanthium DC. Acanthoxanthium (DC.) Fourr. Xanthium sect. Acanthoxanthium DC. ***Xanthium*** (**cocklebur**) is a [genus](/source/Genus) of [flowering plants](/source/Flowering_plant) in the tribe [Heliantheae](/source/Heliantheae) within the family [Asteraceae](/source/Asteraceae), native to the [Americas](/source/Americas) and eastern [Asia](/source/Asia) and some parts of south Asia.[2][3][4] ## Description Cockleburs are coarse, [herbaceous](/source/Herbaceous) [annual plants](/source/Annual_plant) growing to 50–120 cm (20–47 in) tall. The leaves are spirally arranged, with deeply toothed margins. Some species, notably *[Xanthium spinosum](/source/Xanthium_spinosum)*, are also very thorny with long, slender [spines](/source/Thorns%2C_spines%2C_and_prickles) at the leaf bases.[5] The flower heads are of two types; One, in short terminal branches, produces only [pollen](/source/Pollen). The other, in clusters in the axils of the leaves, produces seed.[5] Unlike many other members of the family [Asteraceae](/source/Asteraceae), whose seeds are airborne with a plume of silky hairs resembling miniature [parachutes](/source/Parachute), cocklebur seeds are produced in a hard, spiny, [globose](/source/Globose) or oval double-chambered, single-seeded bur 8–20 mm (0.32–0.79 in) long. It is covered with stiff, hooked spines, which stick to fur and clothing and can be quite difficult to detach. These burs are carried long distances from the parent plant during [seed dispersal](/source/Seed_dispersal) by help of animals ([zoochorous](/source/Zoochorous)).[6] ## Biology Cockleburs are short-day plants, meaning they only initiate flowering when the days are getting shorter in the late summer and fall, typically from July to October in the [Northern Hemisphere](/source/Northern_Hemisphere). They can also flower in the tropics where the daylength is constant.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] ## Diversity Over 200 names have been proposed for species, subspecies, and varieties within the genus. Most of these are regarded as synonyms of highly variable species. Some recognize as few as two or three species in the genus. The Global Compositae Checklist recognizes the following. **Accepted species[3]** - *[Xanthium albinum](/source/Xanthium_albinum)* (Widd.) Scholz & Sukopp – [Mongolia](/source/Mongolia) - *[Xanthium argenteum](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Xanthium_argenteum&action=edit&redlink=1)* Widder – [Chile](/source/Chile) - *[Xanthium catharticum](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Xanthium_catharticum&action=edit&redlink=1)* Kunth – [Chile](/source/Chile), [Bolivia](/source/Bolivia), [Argentina](/source/Argentina) - *[Xanthium cavanillesii](/source/Xanthium_cavanillesii)* [Shouw](/source/Joakim_Frederik_Schouw) – [Argentina](/source/Argentina) - *[Xanthium inaequilaterum](/source/Xanthium_inaequilaterum)* [DC.](/source/DC.) – [China](/source/China), [India](/source/India), [Southeast Asia](/source/Southeast_Asia) - *[Xanthium mongolicum](/source/Xanthium_mongolicum)* Kitag. – [Mongolia](/source/Mongolia) - *[Xanthium orientale](/source/Xanthium_orientale)* [L.](/source/Carl_Linnaeus) – [Europe](/source/Europe), [North Africa](/source/North_Africa), [Middle East](/source/Middle_East) - *[Xanthium pungens](/source/Xanthium_pungens)* Wallr. – [Australia](/source/Australia); naturalized in [Eurasia](/source/Eurasia) - *[Xanthium saccharosum](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Xanthium_saccharosum&action=edit&redlink=1)* - *[Xanthium spinosum](/source/Xanthium_spinosum)* [L.](/source/Carl_Linnaeus) – spiny cocklebur, burreed, Bathurst burr – very widespread, nearly [cosmopolitan](/source/Cosmopolitan_distribution) - *[Xanthium strumarium](/source/Xanthium_strumarium)* [L.](/source/Carl_Linnaeus) – clotbur, rough cocklebur, large cocklebur, common cocklebur – very widespread, nearly [cosmopolitan](/source/Cosmopolitan_distribution) **formerly included[3]** - see *[Ambrosia](/source/Ambrosia_(plant))* - *Xanthium artemisioides – [Ambrosia arborescens](/source/Ambrosia_arborescens)* - *Xanthium fruticosum – [Ambrosia arborescens](/source/Ambrosia_arborescens)* ## Legal status The cocklebur is legally listed as a noxious weed in the states of [Arkansas](/source/Arkansas) and [Iowa](/source/Iowa) in the United States of America.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] ## Toxicity and uses The common cocklebur (*[Xanthium strumarium](/source/Xanthium_strumarium)*) is a native of [North America](/source/North_America). It has become an [invasive species](/source/Invasive_species) worldwide. It invades agricultural lands and can be poisonous to [livestock](/source/Livestock), including horses, cattle, and sheep. Some domestic animals will avoid consuming the plant if other forage is present, but less discriminating animals, such as pigs, will consume the plants and then sicken and die. The seedlings and seeds are the most toxic parts of the plants. Symptoms usually occur within a few hours, producing unsteadiness and weakness, depression, [nausea](/source/Nausea) and vomiting, twisting of the neck muscles, rapid and weak pulse, difficulty breathing, and eventually death.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] The plant also has been used for making yellow dye, hence the name of the genus (Greek *xanthos* means 'yellow'). The many species of this plant, which can be found in many areas, may actually be varieties of two or three species. The [seed oil](/source/Cocklebur_oil) is edible.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] *Xanthium strumarium* is known as *cang er zi* (蒼耳子) in [traditional Chinese medicine](/source/Traditional_Chinese_medicine). *Xanthium* is also used to treat nasal and sinus congestion.[7] The spines and seeds of this fruit are rich in a chemical called [carboxyatractyloside](/source/Carboxyatractyloside) (CAT), formerly referred to as xanthostrumarin, which is the chemical that is responsible for most of the adverse effects from the use of *cang er zi*. CAT has been shown to be a growth inhibitor in *Xanthium* and other plants, serving two functions, delaying seed germination and inhibiting the growth of other plants. Most of the chemical is concentrated in the spines. When the bur is prepared as an herbal remedy, the spines are usually removed, reducing the CAT content of the finished product.[8] ## Gallery - *X. strumarium* - *X. italicum* - *X. spinosum* - *X. albinum* - Unidentified *Xanthium* ## See also - [List of beneficial weeds](/source/List_of_beneficial_weeds) - [List of companion plants](/source/List_of_companion_plants) - [List of plants poisonous to equines](/source/List_of_plants_poisonous_to_equines) ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** lectotype designated by J.P. Fourreau, Ann. Soc. Linn. Lyon ser. 2 17: 110 (1869) 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-n_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-n_2-1) [Tropicos, *Xanthium* L.](http://www.tropicos.org/Name/40026941) 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-g_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-g_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-g_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-g_3-3) [Flann, C (ed) 2009+ "Global Compositae Checklist"](https://archive.today/20150117084930/http://dixon.iplantcollaborative.org/compositaeweb/default.aspx?Page=NameDetails&TabNum=0&NameId=4c758060-c858-4c96-8d37-e38f806ef0f3) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [Linnaeus, Carl von. 1753. *Species Plantarum* 2: 987](https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/359008#page/429/mode/1up) in Latin 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-r_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-r_5-1) [*Flora of North America* Vol. 21 Page 19, Lampourde, *Xanthium* Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 987. 1753; Gen. Pl. ed. 5, 424. 1754.](http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=135017) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [*Flora of China* Vol. 20–21 Page 4, 6, 852, 875 苍耳属 cang er shu *Xanthium* Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 987. 1753.](http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=135017) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** English, J. (2010). ["Natural Allergy Relief"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120202155918/http://nutritionreview.org/library/allergy-immune.php). *Nutrition Review*. **4** (2). Archived from [the original](http://www.nutritionreview.org/library/allergy-immune.php) on 2012-02-02. Retrieved 2012-01-03. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Cutler, H. G. and R. J. Cole. (1983). "Carboxyatractyloside: A compound from *Xanthium strumarium* and *Atractylis gummifera* with plant growth inhibiting properties". *Journal of Natural Products* 46(5) 609-13. ## Further reading - Everitt, J.H.; Lonard, R.L.; Little, C.R. (2007). *Weeds in South Texas and Northern Mexico*. Lubbock: Texas Tech University Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-89672-614-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-89672-614-2) Taxon identifiers Xanthium Wikidata: Q598601 Wikispecies: Xanthium APDB: 195975 APNI: 93910 CoL: 649GW eFloraSA: Xanthium EoL: 38875 EPPO: 1XANG FloraBase: 22312 FNA: 135017 FoAO2: Xanthium FoC: 135017 GBIF: 3089139 GRIN: 12931 iNaturalist: 57921 IPNI: 125007-1 IRMNG: 1356340 ITIS: 38690 NBN: NHMSYS0000465172 NCBI: 36590 NZOR: 870aff16-38c1-438e-999b-941290471800 Open Tree of Life: 217669 PLANTS: XANTH2 POWO: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:11557-1 Tropicos: 40026941 VASCAN: 1832 VicFlora: 0b1e2ee1-696c-4ba6-95f3-653e792194a4 WFO: wfo-4000040868 WoRMS: 1076874 Authority control databases National Israel Other Yale LUX --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Xanthium](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xanthium) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xanthium?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.