img

Xanthium strumarium

L. (1753)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Asterids Order: Asterales Family: Asteraceae Genus: Xanthium

cocklebur, kīkānia [kikania], kikenia

img

Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form:

Stems:

Roots: Roots a tap root.

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate or opposite. Blades deltate, ovate, reniform Apex obtuse or rounded. Base cordate, truncate. Margins serrate/dentate.

Flowers:

Fruit:

Ploidy:

Habitat:

Elevation Range:

Historical Distribution

Images

img

Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Ni'ihau(Incl. Lehua) Naturalized
Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll) Potentially naturalizing
Kaua'i Naturalized
O'ahu Naturalized
Molokai Naturalized
Lana'i Naturalized
Kaho'olawe Naturalized
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Potentially naturalizing

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Sp. Pl.: 987 (1753)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:376 (Mi, Ni, K, O, Mo, L, M, Ka, H [as X. strumarium var. canadense]); Wood & LeGrande 2006:21 (Le? [observed but no spm.]); Strother 2006c:876 (Syn. X. s. var. canadense = X. strumarium); Faccenda, Arthur, et al. 2025:163 (Le); Starr & Starr 2008/Chisholm s.n. BISH 121812 (Mi†, 1931)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Xanthium strumarium Diamond Head crater Preserved_Specimen Christophersen, E. 1436 Oahu BISH 1931-01-22
2 Xanthium strumarium Nanakuli Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 12943 Oahu BISH 1933-03-12
3 Xanthium strumarium Honolulu District: Koko Head, Ihiihilauakea Crater Preserved_Specimen Bruegmann, M.M. 169 Oahu BISH 1985-01-26
4 Xanthium strumarium Lualailua S slope of Haleakala Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 2034 Maui BISH 1920-03-19
5 Xanthium strumarium Laie; Back of BYU-H campus Slope flat, soil clay/loam. Preserved_Specimen Coarse annual branching herb, fruit has spines. Ziegelbauer, K. 44 Oahu BISH 1975-04-02
6 Xanthium strumarium Schofield Road Preserved_Specimen Bryan Jr., E.H. Oahu BISH 1929-02-10
7 Xanthium strumarium Diamond Head crater Preserved_Specimen Christophersen, E. 1442 Oahu BISH 1931-01-22
8 Xanthium strumarium Kaa Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 402 Lanai BISH 1929-04-15
9 Xanthium strumarium Lower Kipahulu Valley, Area between upper pasture and the gauging station on Palakea Stream Preserved_Specimen Gagné, B.H. Maui BISH 1975-03-01
10 Xanthium strumarium [Hawaiian Islands; U.S.A.; Molokai; Hawaii; Maui Preserved_Specimen Stokes, J.F.G. Molokai BISH 1909-01-01
11 Xanthium strumarium Koko Head Preserved_Specimen Octavio, A.M. Oahu BISH 1929-11-28
12 Xanthium strumarium P.T.B.G., Lawai Valley Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 2344 Kauai BISH 1972-01-27
13 Xanthium strumarium Waimea District Rocky arid area next to stream With Kalanchoe sp, Hippobroma longiflora, some grasses. Preserved_Specimen 1-2 foot tall shrub. Coarse leaves irregularly lobed, toothed margins. Egg shaped fruit with uncinate, hirsute prickles. Tip of the bur with two wider, hooked prickles. Jablonski, J. 76 Kauai BISH 2023-08-18
14 Xanthium strumarium NE slope Widely scattered on NE slope among pili grass and algarobas. Preserved_Specimen Erect herb, 40-50 cm. high; brown burr. Bryan Jr., E.H. 1417 Kahoolawe BISH 1939-06-07
15 Xanthium strumarium West slope of Haleakala, Kula, Haleakala Ranch, pasture below Upper Kula Rd Local colony on flat low place on gently sloping pastureland Preserved_Specimen Aromatic herbs; odor rather like a skunk; I m tall, large ones branched. Fosberg, F.R. 53772 Maui BISH 1971-08-31
16 Xanthium strumarium Mokapu Peninsula, Ulupau Head Frequent on disintegrated lava. Preserved_Specimen Harris, J.A. 242070 Oahu BISH 1924-08-20
17 Xanthium strumarium N of Halulu Lake On mud flat. Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 23645 Niihau BISH 1949-04-01
18 Xanthium strumarium Waialua; Haleiwa Point Common on flat coral rock and thin sand; full sun. Preserved_Specimen Tree-like suffrutescent herb 2 m tall, aromatic. Fosberg, F.R. 27126 Oahu BISH 1946-10-20
19 Xanthium strumarium Puuwaawaa Transect T16 at Puu Huluhulu, near the Acacia koaia colony In heavily grazed pasture. Preserved_Specimen 1.5' herb. Takeuchi, W.N. 5733 Hawaii BISH 1989-12-26
20 Xanthium strumarium E of BYU-H married student housing Slope flat, soil clayish. Preserved_Specimen A coarse annual weed (1-8 ft. in height). Pistillate heads below & staminate heads above. Pistillate flowers develop into burs about 1 in. long, covered with hooked bristles. Tiu, C. 14 Oahu BISH 1975-03-08
21 Xanthium strumarium Laie; Near BYU-HC Slope 0 deg., silty loam. Preserved_Specimen Shrub to 3' tall. 6 fuzzy leaves, typical brown burr fruit. Uncommon weed. Afualo, D. 112 Oahu BISH 1975-03-25
22 Xanthium strumarium Laie Roadside weed. Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 11133 Oahu BISH 1931-11-15
23 Xanthium strumarium Kau District, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Along Halape beach, some distance west of the Halape Shelter Growing in open sunny location. Preserved_Specimen Herb ca. 1/3 m high. Common. Herat, T. 857 Hawaii BISH 1974-06-30
24 Xanthium strumarium Kahoolawe All over the island. Preserved_Specimen Erect herb, 40-60 cm high; brown burr. Bryan Jr., E.H. 737 Kahoolawe BISH 1931-06-16
25 Xanthium strumarium Nahoko, NE shore Common along roadside in arid, disturbed Prosopis thicket. Preserved_Specimen Annual herb, about 3 ft. tall. Herbst, D.R. 4026 Lanai BISH 1974-06-10
26 Xanthium strumarium Honolulu; Waikiki Dry coral plain. Preserved_Specimen Baker, R.J. Oahu BISH 1932-07-15
27 Xanthium strumarium Hanapepe; Hanapepe River valley Wet slope. Preserved_Specimen Herb 3 ft. tall, strong odor. St.John, H. 13503 Kauai BISH 1933-12-23
28 Xanthium strumarium West Molokai; NE of Puu Ula Dominant weed in eroded places on dry flat volcanic soil. Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, F.R. 29570 Molokai BISH 1948-02-22
29 Xanthium strumarium Halape Shore. Preserved_Specimen 2' high. Fagerlund, G.O. 342 Hawaii BISH 1943-02-16
30 Xanthium strumarium Honolulu; Salt Lake Boulevard at the lake On roadside waste ground. Preserved_Specimen Mäkinen, L. 6610 Oahu BISH 1966-01-02
31 Xanthium strumarium Koko Crater, Maunalua Open lower slopes of Koko Crater. Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 10407 Oahu BISH 1930-02-28
32 Xanthium strumarium Pohakuloa, Tank Trail aa, roadside; Heterotheca grandiflora, Pennisetum setaceum, Rhynchelytrum repens, Verbesina encelioides Preserved_Specimen Tierney 9337 Hawaii BISH 1993-07-13
33 Xanthium strumarium Koolau Range, Pauoa Valley, Pauoa Dry habitat. Preserved_Specimen Shrub 3 ft. high. Nishida, T. Oahu BISH 1943-10-24
34 Xanthium strumarium Kau District, land of Makaka Kopu Moaula Roadside weed. Preserved_Specimen Annual herb. Herbst, D.R. 5833 Hawaii BISH 1976-04-21
35 Xanthium strumarium Punawa at east side of Kahuku Point On sand dunes. Preserved_Specimen Neal, M.C. Oahu BISH 1938-08-07
36 Xanthium strumarium East Maui, Makawao District, Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve, Kipuka at the head of the trail towards Pohaku Paea from the midstop along Makena-Keoneoio Road Pockets of vegetation in a'a lava and at roadside. Preserved_Specimen One only; about 1.5m tall; in fruit. Abbott, I.A. 91.48 Maui BISH 1991-03-06
37 Xanthium strumarium Koko Crater Rocky slope in gully, close to ocean, fresh-water seepage. Preserved_Specimen Neal, M.C. Oahu BISH 1931-01-18
38 Xanthium strumarium Maunalei Gulch, along road near Pili grass, `ilima, pitted beard grass, and nehe growing in the area. Preserved_Specimen Funk, E.J. 920021 Lanai BISH 1992-02-22
39 Xanthium strumarium Mokuleia Pasture weed. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 17942 Oahu BISH 1933-03-14
40 Xanthium strumarium Puuwaawaa Transect T16 at Puu Huluhulu, near the Acacia koaia colony In heavily grazed pasture. Preserved_Specimen 1.5' herb. Takeuchi, W.N. 5733 Hawaii BISH 1989-12-26
41 Xanthium strumarium Kaalualu Bay near South Point Found in pasture areas on the west side of the bay. Preserved_Specimen Large herb with spiny fruits and inconspicuous flowers. Whistler, W.A. 52 Hawaii BISH 1972-04-06
42 Xanthium strumarium Kaluakoi, Kawakiu Road Sand dunes Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 12459 Molokai BISH 1932-12-22
43 Xanthium strumarium Waianae Mts. (NW end), Kuaokala 1 mi. SE of Puu Pueo On crest in open eroded places. Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 22866 Oahu BISH 1947-11-11
44 Xanthium strumarium Kaaawa In sand back of beach. Preserved_Specimen Cowan, R.S. 400 Oahu BISH 1946-12-01
45 Xanthium strumarium East Maui, Hana District, in corral E of Moomooiki Gulch Coastal pasture lands SE of Kauiki from Kaihalulu Bay to Ka Iwi O Pele Preserved_Specimen Herb of 2 ft. Flynn, T.W. 2537 Maui BISH 1987-10-22
46 Xanthium strumarium Transect C3 - from spotting tower to area above Waikahalulu Bay, in gulch bottom. This specimen in gulch bottom Scattered throughout island, this specimen in gulch bottom. Preserved_Specimen Char, W.P. 78.055 Kahoolawe BISH 1978-11-24
47 Xanthium strumarium Waianae side, Makua Beach Preserved_Specimen Annual weed to 1 m. Leaves alternate, broadly oval-cordate (three-lobed); strongly veined. Fruit a bur w/ hooked bristles. Spence, G. 219 Oahu BISH 1973-09-27
48 Xanthium strumarium Koko Head, dry flat above Hanauma Bay Preserved_Specimen Webster, G.L. 1481 Oahu BISH 1948-04-16
49 Xanthium strumarium Jeep road between Wahiawa Bog (Kanaele Swamp) and trail to TV relay tower on Mt. Kahili Preserved_Specimen Wagner, W.L. 5201 Kauai BISH 1983-12-22
50 Xanthium strumarium Koele Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 187 Lanai BISH 1913-06-01
51 Xanthium strumarium Along the highway near the lands of Waialua Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 5741 Molokai BISH 1976-03-10
52 Xanthium strumarium W Maui, Olowalu Preserved_Specimen Herb to 36 ht. Stems streaked w/purple. Growing in sand w/Cenchrus & Impomoea. On beach. Nagata, K.M. 992 Maui BISH 1972-04-06
Back to Top