Long-Spined Sandbur

Grass (Poaceae family):

Cenchrus longispinus (Hack.) Fernald

EPPO code:

CCHPA

Other names:

Bur grass

Species information

Lifecycle:

Annual.

Propagation:

Reproduces by seed.

Emergence:

Long-spined sandbur emerges in the spring with the majority of plants emerging in May. It sometimes can, however, germinate into the summer months.

Habitat:

Most commonly, long-spined sandbur is found in sandy soils throughout southern Ontario.

Competitiveness:

University of Guelph (Ridgetown campus) research has shown that where long-spined sandbur is left uncontrolled at typical field densities, it can inflict yield losses as high as 30% in soybeans and 40% in corn (Soltani et al., 2009, 2010).

Identification clues

Auricles:

None.

Ligule:

hairy, short (1 mm).

Leaf blade:

Long-spined sandbur leaf blades are mostly hairless, but will feel rough when the blade is run between the thumb and index finger in one direction.

Leaf sheath:

The leaf sheath is split with overlapping margins that are membranous. Although they are hairless when young, they may be sparsely haired when older. There is a tuft of hairs at the collar (junction between leaf sheath and blade).

Stem:

Long-spined sandbur stems are flat and are covered with many plants. Near the base of the plant, stems exhibit a reddish tinge.

Seed heads:

Seed heads grow in rows with spiny burs that appear in a spike-like formation. The spiny burs have extremely sharp spines that will anchor to clothing and/or skin when walking through the field.

Roots:

Roots are fibrous with a distinct bur that is easily found close to the surface of the soil.

Often mistaken for

I know it's not Yellow foxtail because long-spined sandbur lacks the short, wiry hairs at the bottom of the leaf blade base.

I know it's not Barnyardgrass because long-spined sandbur has a hairy ligule, while barnyardgrass has no ligule at all.