Stem
- Prostrate; multiple stems that spread radially from crown; up to 3 ft. long (sometimes longer); highly branched, green to reddish-brown and often hairy
Leaves
- Opposite, usually hairy, pinnate-compound, 1-2 in. long, with 3-7 pairs of leaflets; leaflets oval and 0.2-0.6 in. long; edges (margins) are smooth
Flower
- Yellow, 0.2-0.6 in. diameter, with 5 petals; arise from leaf axils
- Fruit is a woody bur that breaks into 5 sections (nutlets) at maturity; each nutlet has 2 stout, spines and contains 3-5 seeds
Root
- Slender, deep taproot; can associate with nitrogen-fixing bacteria
Other
- Often found in still or slow-moving water; not known to occur in Nevada
- Annual; reproduces by seed
- Also known as goathead, Mexican sandbur, Texas sandbur and tackweed; spines on fruit can cause injury to livestock and humans and can also puncture tires; foliage can be toxic to livestock
Control
- Frequent hand-removal or tillage prior to seed production
- Two insect biological control agents are available
- Apply 2,4-D, dicamba, glyphosate, imazapic or picloram to young, actively growing plants; chlorsulfuron or imazapyr preemergence or early post emergence
Blecker, L., Creech, E., Dick, J., Gephart, S., Hefner, M., Kratsch, H., Moe, A., Schultz, B.
2020,
Nevada Noxious Weed Field Guide – Puncturevine,
Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, Field Guide
