Cockleburr (Xanthium)
Cockleburr Genus Details
Cockleburs are annual weeds with branching strong stems and lobed leaves. The plants produce burs armed with spines. These spines serve as an excellent device for seed distribution. They hook onto animals that walk by and can be carried for miles. Likely not a source of allergies themselves, these burrs serve as temporary resting places for other pollen types just as leaves and branches do.
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Rough cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium). Photo source: Lewis et al
Cockleburr Allergy Info
Because this weed is wind-pollinated, and a member of the same family as the notoriously allergenic ragweed, it is likely a source of allergy.
Cockleburr Pollen Description
Grains are mostly oblate-spheroidal to prolate-spheroidal. The amb is triangular, 3-4 lobate, pentagonal or hexagonal, and 3-4 colporate. Spinules are reduced to small pointed or blunt projections less than 0.6 micrometers long.
Pollen grains are 26-28 micrometers.
Species in This Genus
Allergenicity Legend:
Mild Allergen |
Moderate Allergen |
Severe Allergen |
Allergy Test Available
Mild Allergen |
Moderate Allergen |
Severe Allergen |
Allergy Test Available
Cockleburr (Xanthium) is a genus of the ASTERACEAE family.
This genus includes the following allergenic species:
This genus includes the following allergenic species:
